“ The first is that typical frontier community was sociologically cohesive- a kind of persistent Lockhean husking and barn-raising. The second misconception is that these particular frontier communities were reslentlessly homicidal” (pg 218). Frontier citizens worked together to obtain railroads, manage their cattle and access to cattle trails, defend themselves and families from outlaws gangs, but also they fought among themselves for cattle, for lands, for power and wealth. Which proves the contrast between Dykstra’s research and the western legends belief. Also the homicide rate in frontier compare to modern society is lower. The table on page 215, it demonstrates that the cattle town homicide in towns such as Abilene, Ellsworth, Wichita,
armed forces drove the Indians into reservations, the change was troublesome and difficult. Zesch sees himself both to be a relative of whites and, through the experience of his predecessor Adolph Korn, to be an assenting relative of the Comanche. He recounts to the two sides' accounts with equalization and compassion. He additionally investigates his very own family's conflicted relationship to its ancestors, and strips back the layers of history, so one feels not just the truth of the 1860s and 1870s, yet the resulting manners by which the encounters of officers, Indians, prisoners, and others were later spoken to in the mid-twentieth century, through books, Wild West shows, reunions between previous White and Indian and previous hostages and their previous individual warriors. The author states, “ By the fall of 1872, Adolph Korn, Clinton Smith, Herman Lehmann, Rudolph Fischer, and Temple Friend were living with the Indians as Indians, fighting their battles and taking part in their raids, prepared to die in defense of the tribe if necessary” (Zesch 139).
Although both instances were very different, they had an abundance in common. Both settings were along the high plains around and near the Powder River, people would fight or kill to protect what it is that they believe in, and
In “Fashioning Moccasins: Detroit, the Manufacturing Frontier, and the Empire if Consumption, 1701-1835” by Catherine Cangany; the author offers an interesting outlook on the transformation of North America’s Frontier. Cangany argues that through observing the small frontier town of Detroit you can see the western frontier’s change through the study of moccasins. Her argument is persuasive because she chronologically structures her article, effectively shows Detroit’s transformation and gives a variety of examples allowing the reader to see the influence of moccasins. Catherine Cangany’s article is well-structured helping the reader follow her research. The beginning of her article consists of a summary of what she will expand upon allowing
Susan Rhoades Neel - A Place of Extremes: Nature, History, and the American West In her essay, Susan Rhoades Neel examines the significance of the environment of the American West when shaping western history by referring to and analyzing regional approaches claimed by Webb, Limerick, Worster, and White in order to deemphasize Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis. In fact, most historians may regard Turner's theory as the most influential and adequate one in attempting at giving meaning to the mythical territory of western America as it offers a common sense for the entire American nation. Nonetheless, because of the particular emphasis on nature and the human - nature relation, new approaches have been developed in order to outline
Ned Blackhawk, Violence over the Land does a great job at depicting how the Early american west was created and all of the violence that the native people endured over many years. For as long as I can remember the American west was all about shooting and gun fights due to how most people in history portray it. However Ned Blackhawk does a great job bringing many hard aspects of the Early American West to light. Blackhawk brings a unique perspective to light discussing how many different empires from the Spanish to American’s bringing hardships, death and diseases to the Indian groups living on the land hinting at the title “Violence over the Land”. He discussed how over time the native population has had a very pauperized life.
Identifying the common comparisons in the reviews allows the reader to analyze the structure and arguments in the monograph. A strength that three of the reviews recognize is the depth of research that Hamalainen provides on the Comanche. Recognizing the text’s detailed research, Flores states that its precise history makes it the leading text on the Comanche. Minor writes that Hamalainen’s thesis allows detailed research into the three eras of the Comanche. The rise, peak, and fall of the Comanche, Minor claims allow the readers with a comprehensive understanding of the expanse of the Comanche’s power in the southwest.
Part one allows John Grady Cole to act as the often romanticized western hero incomplete in a constrained life off the open fields without horses. Part two continues perpetuating the mythic West through John Grady Cole’s ability to demonstrate his heroic skills of horse training, as the work’s true western hero. Part three’s introduction to blatant violence with Blevins’ death finally breaks the myth of the perfect west for John Grady Cole, introducing him to the inevitability of violence accompanying the western hero. Finally, part four demonstrates John Grady Cole’s rugged individualism as the western hero, estranged from his friends and family despite trying to reconcile the old aspects of his life in Texas. John Grady Cole’s evolution ultimately demonstrates the collapse of the frontier hypothesis at large, questioning if the notion of the frontier as central to American identity can take root in a modernized America.
Ripped from the fabric of American history, the truth of the Old West is far darker and less heroic than depicted when the fresh wounds from the American Civil War were still fresh and the expansion of the railroads encroached on the eroding territory of Native Americans in the name of “progress” and manifest destiny. The slaughtering grounds of Little Bighorn where General Armstrong Custer valiantly fought to the last man deflates into an ignorant move that Lakota warriors, led by Crazy Horse of the Lakota tribe, took advantage of to fight assimilation in the form of constricting reservations. The lawless land of the West where notorious criminals robbed banks and trains, while the heroic sheriffs ignited
After the Civil War ended many people were in hope of finding land since population was increasing. Since the West was underdeveloped and uncivilized, many decided to expand the land. First the Louisiana Purchase increased the opportunity of expansion. Then industrialization and the Homestead Act also caused many companies encouraged to move West due to the low cost of land and that the transportation was provided through the railroads. In order to complete such goals, something had to be done with the Natives since it conflicted with their home area.
The Indian fighting frontier was the longest in Davidson County’s history and this impacted the population. In the next fifteen years, the total population grew from three thousand six hundred and thirteen to fifteen thousand six hundred and eight. The slave population grew from nine hundred and ninety two to six thousand three hundred and five, which is extreme. The boundaries of black existence continued to be determined by masters. “Frontier society was almost by definition individualistic, lacking in community agencies: a fixed leadership, churches, schools, and police”.
Intro: The wild west or west Texas, land coveted by the Americans who believe in Manifest destiny, but guarded by natives who wish to keep their homeland. On this frontier is a series of stories worthy of Shakespeare filled with bravery, danger, tragedy, and confusion. These are those stories. Will: Before the Civil war the frontier was practically owned by the white man, and the Native Americans were almost driven out.
Life for the Native Americans was much harder during and after the western expansion. For example, the US took land from the Indians leading the formation of reservations, White men almost hunted the Buffalo , an important food source for the Indians, to extinction, and forced the Indians to get rid of their culture. Because of the western expansion, the area of land the Indians could occupy decreased significantly. The government would make treaties with the Indians allowing them to keep a certain area of land, but this would soon be broken ; When the Pacific Railroad Act was passed it stated that wherever a track was laid the company would own any land 200 ft surrounding the track including Indian land ; the Government would make sure that
When comparing the Southwest indians to the Eastern Woodlands indians I found there were some differences, in their homes, the indians in the Southwest had hut like homes made of stone or adobe while indians in the Eastern Woodlands had lodge like homes made from wood. Farming and hunting seemed to be big for the Eastern Woodlands, but most of the Southwest people were just gatherers and hunters when they could be, although there were some successful farmers. Both areas had hostile groups of people, but the two groups in the Southwest later became more settled and peaceful. The Eastern Woodlands and the Great Plains had a few differences, again their homes being one of them.
Perhaps the most significant myth in American culture is that of the American frontier generated by the European encounters with the American West. The most noticeable part of the frontier myth is the mythic struggle between modern civilization and wilderness. Frontier is defined as “the meeting point between savagery and civilization”. Turner believes that the American frontier is closely related to American civilization and that frontier
De Crevecoeur explains these individuals stating, “The Americans were once scattered all over Europe; here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared” (Horwitz 27). De Crevecoeur believes that the frontier played a big role in the formation of the American identity because of the melting pot of different races, ethnicities, beliefs and cultures that was Americans then and are today. John Wannuaucon Quinney was a Native American and leader who highly supported Native American tribes. Quinney was very vocal about the negative impact the frontier played on the formation of American identity.