Explore the tumultuous history of law and order in the American West through this 30-minute video lecture. Delve into the era of vigilante justice during the Gold Rush, where thieves faced trials by their peers without formal law enforcement. Examine the rise of citizen vigilance committees in response to hijackings and the formation of vigilante groups to combat cattle rustling. Investigate the Johnson County War and its corporate political implications. Discover how train robbers became romanticized in literature and film, while cattle town police forces implemented gun control measures. Analyze the racial tensions as Anglo-Saxons targeted minority immigrants over job competition. Uncover the emergence of labor unions from class conflicts in corporate mines and the subsequent intervention of state governors. Learn about President Woodrow Wilson's role in bringing peace to industrial disputes and how violence tainted perceptions of capitalism. Finally, observe the shift towards due process and literacy as alternatives to violent conflict resolution in the American West.
Western Violence, Law, and Order - The American West: History, Myth, and Legacy
Overview
Syllabus
Violence and Weapons Ruled in the American West
The Gold Rush Gives Rise to Vigilante Justice
Hijackings Lead to Citizen Vigilance Committees
Vigilante Groups Begin Hunting Cattle Rustlers
Johnson County War Involves Corporate Politics
Train Robbers Become Heroes in Literature and Film
Cattle Town Police Forces Outlaw Guns in City Limits
Anglo-Saxons Attack Minority Immigrants Over Jobs
Unions Spring from Class Conflict at Corporate Mines
Mine Owners Persuade Governors To Fight Unions
Woodrow Wilson Intervenes to Bring Peace
Industrial Violence Taints Capitalism
American Elite View on Violence
Due Process and Literacy Prevails Over Violence
Taught by
Wondrium
