Historical Figures of the Wild West

Nat Love ◊Born a slave in 1854 ◊Moved to Kansas to be a cowboy ◊Skilled at shooting targets and roping cattle ◊Born a slave in 1854 ◊Moved to Kansas to be a cowboy ◊Skilled at shooting targets and roping cattle

Vaqueros ◊One out of every three cowboys in the late 1800s was a Mexican vaquero

Vigilantes ◊People who take law enforcement into their own hands

Crazy Horse ◊Celebrated for his ferocity in battle, Crazy Horse was recognized among his own people as a visionary leader committed to preserving the traditions and values of the Lakota way of life. ◊Leader of Lakota tribe’s resistance to being moved onto reservations ◊Celebrated for his ferocity in battle, Crazy Horse was recognized among his own people as a visionary leader committed to preserving the traditions and values of the Lakota way of life. ◊Leader of Lakota tribe’s resistance to being moved onto reservations

George A. Custer ◊Famous for “Custer’s Last Stand” when a surprise attack on Lakota Indians at Little Bighorn ended in the death of all 210 US troops involved

Chief Joseph ◊Hin-mah-too-yah-lat- kekt, or Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain ◊Subject of next week’s play ◊Hin-mah-too-yah-lat- kekt, or Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain ◊Subject of next week’s play

Geronimo ◊Apache Indian ◊One Who Yawns'; Goyathlay ◊The origins of his name of "Gerónimo" are not really known. ◊Apache Indian ◊One Who Yawns'; Goyathlay ◊The origins of his name of "Gerónimo" are not really known.

Billy the Kid ◊Myth: At the age twelve, Billy the Kid killed his first man who had insulted his mother. After the killing, he bid his mother farewell and ran away.

Wyatt Earp ◊Gunfight at the OK CorralGunfight at the OK Corral ◊Gunfight at the OK CorralGunfight at the OK Corral

Mexicanos ◊Spanish-speaking people of Spanish descent whose ancestors had come from Mexico

Wild Bill Hickok ◊He was born on May 27, 1837 and died on August 2, 1876.

Buffalo Soldiers ◊The nickname buffalo soldiers began with the Cheyenne warriors in The actual Cheyenne translation was Wild Buffalo. The nickname was given out of respect and the fierce fighting ability of the 10th cavalry. Overtime, Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African American soldiers.

William “Buffalo Bill” Cody ◊Cody’s own theatrical genius revealed itself in 1883, when he organized Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, an outdoor extravaganza that dramatized some of the most picturesque elements of frontier life: a buffalo hunt with real buffalos, an Indian attack on the Deadwood stage with real Indians, a Pony Express ride, and at the climax, a tableau presentation of Custer’s Last Stand in which some Lakota who had actually fought in the battle played a part.

Exodusters ◊Exodus: the departure of a large number of people ◊When the last Federal troops left the South in 1877 and the Reconstruction gave way to renewed racial oppression, a former slave named Benjamin “Pap” Singleton began urging blacks to form their own independent communities in the West. ◊Exodus: the departure of a large number of people ◊When the last Federal troops left the South in 1877 and the Reconstruction gave way to renewed racial oppression, a former slave named Benjamin “Pap” Singleton began urging blacks to form their own independent communities in the West.

Buffalo Bill He was born in February 26, 1846– January 10, 1917 he died.

Annie Oakley ◊She was born in August 13, 1860 and died in November 3, 1926.

Calamity Jane ◊She was born on May 1, 1853 and died on August 1, ◊S◊She was born on May 1, 1853 and died on August 1, 1903.