The Wild West refers to the western area of the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was characterized by battles, lawlessness, and dangerous situations due to westward expansion, conflicts with Native Americans and Mexicans, and a new code of conduct. Outlaws and bandits like Jesse James and Billy the Kid perpetuated the idea of lawlessness.
The term Wild West refers to the area of the United States west of the Mississippi River, particularly during the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century. Also sometimes called the Old West, the parts of the country included in the term Wild West vary according to historical context. Some historians consider the area of the United States from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean to be the Wild West, while others have a narrower definition, including only the Southwestern United States and California.
Before the Civil War, the United States had begun its westward expansion with the belief that the country was meant to do so. This belief was called Manifest Destiny and was popular in the mid-nineteenth century when the US government began setting its sights on Mexican-controlled lands. Expansion was slowed by the Civil War, but after the war ended, the United States expanded rapidly across what would later become the Western United States.
However, the Wild West was noted not only for its geographical location. Since US westward expansion to the Pacific Ocean was often hostile expansion – forcing Native Americans off their lands and traveling through and settling in rugged landscapes – battles, lawlessness, adventurous travel, and dangerous situations for life they were part of daily life. Westward expansion by white settlers created tensions between settlers and Native American tribes, which was one of the main reasons the Wild West was so wild.
Another reason was because of a new code of conduct that became prevalent as cities began to spring up. The citizens of these cities no longer believed that they should flee a fight and avoid conflict, as was often the common behavior in the eastern states. Instead, people believed they should be able to defend themselves and their property if provoked. This led to gunfights and other violence, but often the real lawlessness was far less serious: Town sheriffs spent a significant amount of time trying to keep drunks from hurting themselves or others.
Much of the hostility of the Wild West stemmed from the conflicts between the new settlers and the Native Americans, as well as the Mexicans, who felt their land was being invaded and taken away from them. The Indian Wars resulted in significant loss of life from both Native Americans and new settlers. Outlaws and bandits roamed the Wild West, such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy, perpetuating the idea of lawlessness in the region.
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