Wild West Essay

Was the Wild West really wild?

The Wild West that we are familiar with from films and TV is a hugely exaggerated version of how the west actually was. The vast majority of men in the West were actually just hardworking farmers, who had gone to improve their lives. They would go for weeks without seeing another human being, let alone have a gunfight.

The famous gunfight at the OK Corral, (see my biography of Wyatt Earp) actually only lasted for 30 seconds and, although violent, wasn’t planned and certainly not as dramatic as it is portrayed in films. It only became famous after a book about Wyatt Earp was published in 1931.

In films, the wild west is highly glamourized – there are many well-dressed cowboys twirling pistols, and evil bandits in bandanas. There are also very clear cut goodies and baddies, when in reality the truth was much more ambiguous and a lot less exciting.

The period of lawlessness was also much shorter than it is shown in films, as it was gone by the time cowboys and sheriffs became familiar in westerns. Railroads being established marked the end of the lawless wild west, as people could now cross vast expanses safely and quickly, and towns were developing rapidly. Laws were brought into place, and many towns forbade guns being carried on the streets.

However, for a few short years the west was truly wild – perhaps even more than it is shown in films, as people were more ruthless and less glamorous. This was because so many young men, who were tough enough to venture into the west, were carrying guns and not afraid to use force to survive. Cowboys often had criminal records as well, so things could turn vicious very quickly. There were also many genuine threats, such as horse-theives, robbers and clashes with Native Americans who were angry at being driven off their land.

It was hard to enforce law, as new settlemements had no legal systems or proper governing. Gold rushes caused hysteria in those desperate to make (or take) money, and saloons and gambling dens sprung up quickly which often lead to violent behaviour. Also, people were often on the move, so it was very easy to commit a crime and then sneak off unnoticed.

In conclusion, the west was actually quite wild; however that era was very short. It wasn’t exciting or stylish either, as it is portrayed in films, books and TV.