Chapter 17 Part 2: The Wild West

Indian Wars Aftermath

Outlaw Gangs

• Jesse James Gang
  • Members: Jesse James, Frank James, Younger brothers
  • Origins: Southwest Missouri, Confederate guerrillas (Quantrell’s raiders)
  • Activities: Train and bank robberies in Missouri and Kansas
  • Famous Incident: Failed bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota leading to capture/death of gang members
• Other Gangs
  • Doolin Gang and Dalton Gang
  • Western gangs were less organized; members often switched between activities like cattle rustling and bank robbing
  • Limited communication between towns helped gangs operate

Law Enforcement and Telecommunication

• Lawmen began coordinating efforts better with the spread of the telegraph

Cattle Drives

Post-Civil War Era

• Texas ranchers found a surplus of cattle
• High demand for beef in the North due to economic boom
• Main cattle trails: Chisholm Trail, Western Trail
• Important cattle towns: Abilene, Ellsworth, Dodge City

Cowboy Culture

• Originated many cowboy items (e.g., broad-brimmed hats, chaps) from Mexican vaqueros
• Introduction of chuck wagons, chili, spicy peppers into cowboy culture

Law Enforcement

• Constables like Wyatt Earp maintained order in cattle towns
• Techniques to manage rowdy cowboys
• Seasonal nature of law enforcement work in cattle towns

Dodge City

• Remains a cattle town today with large cattle feedlots instead of traditional drives
• Wyatt Earp's fame from events like the O.K. Corral gunfight and Hollywood representation

African-Americans in the West

• Notable Figures: Nat Love (marksman, horseman)
• African-American Cowboys: Blacks and Hispanics faced less discrimination in cowboy culture
• Exodusters: African-American communities founded in Kansas by former slaves

Mining in the West

Prospectors

• Individuals who searched for traces of gold or minerals
• Typically not the ones to become wealthy from mining

Mining Corporations

• Large companies made significant profits
• Developed machinery and infrastructure for mining
• Led to environmental issues such as clear cutting and erosion

Boom Towns and Ghost Towns

• Rapid influx and exodus of people based on mining success
• Environmental degradation from unsustainable practices

Railroad Development

• Government incentives like land grants to railroads
• Checkerboard pattern for land ownership along railroads
• Role of government in developing the West (vs. myth of rugged individualism)

Cultural Influence and Myths

Buffalo Bill Cody

• Wild West show shaping public perception of the West
• Showcased exaggerated events and characters like Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull
• Portrayed an image of the “Wild West” through performances in the U.S. and Europe

Media and Literature

• Literature and artwork by figures like Owen Wister, Charles Russell, and Frederic Remington
• Influence on modern perceptions of the West

Government Programs

• Acts like the Homestead Act, Timber Act, Desert Land Act helped settle the region

Modern Exploitation

• Ongoing resource extraction, e.g., Bakken oil fields in Montana
• The West as a place for new beginnings and economic opportunities