The Wild West Was a Lot Tamer Than Portrayed in Films and Books
Despite the flashy take on the West advertised by moviemakers, historians offer a much different explanation of life during that notable period in American history. The Wild West stretched from Texas and the West Coast all the way to the Rocky Mountain states like Montana. It covered a period that began before the Civil War, somewhere during the 1850s, and lasted until the 1900s. That’s when cattle could glaze anywhere, and the range was open.
Since the majority of the land was pre-statehood, there was virtually no federal oversight, which left people to resolve their disputes among themselves. Contrary to popular belief, cattle owners didn’t go around shooting their rivals to steal their land. Instead, they formed associations to decide property rights for extensive plots of land. Of course, Native Americans weren’t included in those agreements, and their fate was decided with the Appropriations Act of 1851 and the creation of the first reservations.
The Western States Were More Violent Than Eastern States
It wasn’t all sweet-smelling roses in the Wild West. Despite the prolonged periods of peace, there were also periods of violent rivalry for precious metals. When people had to deal with property matters, they found a peaceful resolution, but when it came to gold, murder and gunfights weren’t uncommon.
The Wild West certainly wasn’t the raw, violent scenery we’re used to seeing in movies, but it surely wasn’t a walk in the park in some regions.