The “Wild” West
1865-1900
(Not really too romantic)
“Go West Young Man”
• Just where is the “West”?
– The Great American Desert
• Plains region, midwest
• Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Arizona, New Mexico
• NOT California!
• Why risk going West?
– Effect of the Civil War
• Freedom of Slaves
• New Industries
• Disposessed/To forget
Incentive to “Go West”
• Homestead Act, 1862
– During Civil War
– National Security
• Subduing of the Native Americans
– “Indian Wars”
• Little Big Horn, Sand Creek Massacre, Chief Joseph, Wounded Knee
• BIA, “Century of Dishonor”, Dawes Severalty Act
• Joseph Glidden
– Barbed Wire = Closed Range
• Oklahoma Land Rush
– Reservation land
– 1890 Census
• Frederick Jackson Turner
– Frontier Thesis
Occupations/Industries out West
• Farming/ “Sodbusters”
– Homestead Act, 1862
– Water problem
• Cattle Ranching
– Conflict with “Sodbusters”
– “The Long Drive” and the Cowboy
– Effect of refridgeration/industry
• Mining Industry
– “Boom” towns
– Indian Wars
Bad Guys of the West
• Famous lawmen of the West
– Bill Tilghman
– Wyatt Earp
– Frank Stillwell
• The really bad boys
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Billy the Kid
The Bloody Espinosas
Cherokee Bill
The Dalton Gang
Jesse James
Belle Starr
• How they were dealt with by the law
– Pinkerton Detective Agency
– Posses: Vigilante Justice