Why was the West so hard to police? In your pairs, try to come up with as many Reasons as possible that help to explain Why the West was so hard to police?

Lesson Objectives *To identify and explain the role of key men and women who broke the law in the American West *To explore the extent to which the American West was genuinely ‘Wild’

Why was there disorder in the West? The huge area, and slowness of transport made ‘policing’ the West difficult. Mining camps and cow towns were centres of lawlessness Vigilantes (self- created policing groups) used violence and created terror Gunslingers and gangs dominated many areas Conflict on the range frequently broke out Between cattlemen and homesteaders

When the Civil War ended in 1865 most of the lands west of the Mississippi were still federal territories. These territories were divided up into towns and counties They were controlled by the Federal Government There was however a shortage of reliable law enforcement officers to keep order over such a huge area of land. When the federal Government sent officials to govern the territories, lawmen were also sent.

Who were the Vigilantes? Vigilantes were people who took the law into their own hands. When they identified someone whom they believed to be a criminal they punished them. They might run them out of town or lynch them There were over two hundred vigilante groups west of the Mississippi. In some regions they did clean up the territory However they often hanged the wrong person and used their position to settle private disputes and quarrels.

American West – Law and Order TOP TRUMPS Your challenge! Make a a set of Top Trumps cards based on the different law men and lawlessmen and women in the West

Legendary Lawless men and women Billy the Kid The Wild Bunch John Wesley Hardin Belle Starr Etta Place Annie McDougal and Jennie Metcalf Name What did he do (Lawless rating) Where was he based? How famous was he?

Your Task (Homework) What happened in Abilene? (Green book p.75 – 76) What was the Johnson County War? (Green 79 – 80)

Exam question Why was the West so hard to police? (10 marks) Choose 3 of the above points to explain in detail.