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The Wild West era, a period of myth-making cowboys, gunslingers, and saloon madames, actually lasted only 30 years. The hats were practical, lightweight, and made with utility in mind. Corral was caused by one gang being unwilling to abide by the anti-firearm rule of Tombstone. This created a whole new business industry; many ‘entrepreneurs’ took gallons of waters from the other side to sell it to the travelers and locals for high prices. What it's like now: Watch daily Wild West Show shootouts on Main Street or re-enactments of Wild Bill Hickok's slaying. In a thorough review of the “West was violent” literature, Bruce Benson (1998) discovered that many historians simply assumethat violence was pervasive—even more so than in modern-day America—and then theorize about its likely causes. Especially when you're talking about someone providing a potentially life-saving service (a guide kept you from getting lost, when getting lost meant getting dead). Hell, even if we'd never seen a Western in our lives, that would seem like a low number. There may be no name more evocative of the Wild West than Deadwood. The Wild West: A time when outlaws roamed the plains, every sheriff was a sure shot and gun battles filled makeshift cemeteries with the innocent and guilty alike. There's always the boots, too, but they kind of go together as a pair. It was far more likely that the average settler would trade with Native Americans or hire members of various tribes as guides, rather than fight them. Shotguns and rifles were the preferred weapons, having both the power and the range to put down a mountain lion or a card-cheating son of a bitch. It had an effective range of maybe 50 feet. Hitting shelves in October, Cracked's De-Textbook is a fully-illustrated, systematic deconstruction of all of the bullshit you learned in school. No one's disputing that one. Contrary to Hollywood scripture, RL Cowboy Lyfe was less Rawhide and more A Million Ways to Die of Dysentery in the Desert. Below are 47 wild facts about the American Frontier. There was no chance of overtaking as the trails were mostly narrow and could only have enough space of one and at most two medium sized wagons. That vision, that western movies gave us of a single wagon slowly treading on a rugged terrain is just that; a vision. Regardless of the vision of the Wild West one may have, the old west was nothing like what it has been portrayed on a cinema screen for the better part of last century. This inevitably created massive clouds of dust to even turn the day into night (or a nightmare) for those poor folks lurking at the back. This documentary series, which was made in 1992, shows stories of how the real West was created and separates fact from fiction. Unfamiliar with the terrain the people moving to the old west feared death by thirst and starvation. In any case, the nickname stuck. Another injustice that movies did to those who lived in the west all through the 19th century was the fact that they were all portrayed as either gunslingers, land grabbers or mere sheep who worshipped the powerful. For more ridiculous myths you believe, check out 6 Things From History Everyone Pictures Incorrectly. The term 'Wild West' was initially referring to the fact that the area was 'wild', i.e. They had curved edges that could defend you from both sun and rain, and they made you look incredibly stylish while doing what amounted to staring at cows for weeks at a time. Now, clearly pop culture has turned much of the true West into bullshit legend -- there were never quick-draw artists who could shoot a six gun out of your hand with another six gun. After four days, the hunch paid off, when the bandit unwittingly walked towards the man who haunted the outlaws of the Old West. Bass Reeves was born a slave in 1838 and later broke from his owner to live among Native Americans. They were doing what nobody else was crazy enough to do. And as a bonus? Any expedition into "injun" territory came with the warning that you'd better go well-armed. But that's the point -- they got famous for a reason. In addition, some authors assume that the West was very violent and then assert, as Joe Franz does, that “American violence today reflects our frontier heritage” (Fran… To put that number in perspective, the total number of pioneer deaths on the Oregon Trail from all causes (including disease) numbered 10,000 to 30,000, which means only 1 to 4 percent of all trail fatalities can be attributed to Native Americans. But for everyday criminals, common targets were often trains and stagecoaches because they were more isolated, easier to get into, and easier to escape. Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Old West buildings were usually built pretty close together, meaning the bank would be flanked by other buildings, while a reinforced back wall would keep anyone from intruding from behind (you can sort through the Freudian implications of that). They could take entire fortunes from banks that had slightly less security than a modern hot dog stand. And with good reason. While the Wild West wasn’t quite the world of gunslingers and desperadoes portrayed in movies, it was still a dangerous place. With Kenny Rogers, Paul A. Hutton, Robert Utley, Leon Metz. Reeves … In the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century, the media focused largely on the American West, which is sometimes called the Wild West or the Old West. But it's not like vaqueros went the way of the cowboy at the time, either. Fascinating photos from 120 years ago show what life was really like in the Wild West. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to get sexy, sexy jokes sent straight to your news feed. A court even allowed him to legally adopt the bandit’s name. As towns formed and communities grew, the need for and tolerance of handguns started to fall. The 1860s and the 1890s gave birth to the period known as the Wild West and laid a foundation to its ensuing mythology. Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West Travelling in heat, fighting with nature, starving for days and searching for every drop of water; the emigrants had no view of their ‘wardrobe’ especially when they were literally fighting for their lives. So if you get in your time machine and set it for 1870, you'd damn well better be packing one of these: Lots of people wore hats back then, that part's true. Drinking water without a doubt was as expensive in the old west as gold. Springing from the bushes, the cowboy confronted his frightened mark with a warrant. Photographs were taken of the families that traveled West, and they offer glimpses of what life was like during that time period. In 1843 US camel corps was formed after authorities imported some sixty-six healthy camels from Egypt and Morocco. The original cowboys were Mexican cattlemen known as vaqueros, and they are literally everything you imagine a cowboy to be. The rate of homicide was significantly low; there were no choreographed gun-bouts, no mass hangings; to put it in one term ‘west was never the way you may remember from the western movies’. As it turns out, this exciting period in American history wasn't as rife with murderous debauchery as Western movies and pulpy novels would have us believe. The Whole Bushel. That's why, even among those who used guns, six-shooters weren't the favorite. Or discover The 5 Most Overrated Jobs Of All-Time. Granted, between the United States cavalry and, uh, pretty much every tribe you can name, things certainly got good and massacre-y. Some common myths you probably still believe include ... Old Westerns treat Native Americans kind of like The Walking Dead treats zombies -- sudden, murderous ambushes could come from anywhere, at any time. Of the hundreds of thousands of pioneers who willingly trudged all the way through Nebraska, only a few hundred died in clashes with Native Americans. Thanks for connecting! Fortunately, it hasn’t been that long since our ancestors tamed the American frontier. Deadly gunman and Old West folk hero James “Wild Bill” Hickok was born in Illinois on May 27, 1837. Another is a bit simpler: Jane was a popular nickname for women in the Wild West (Lewis and Clark called Sacagawea “Jane”), and her life had been such a calamity. Back then, every man, woman, and child came pre-equipped with an old-timey revolver, which was used for everything from personal defense and hunting to celebrating. The term "American Old West" refers to a vast geographical area and lengthy time period of imprecise boundaries, and historians' definitions vary. The most famous shootout in the history of the Wild West – the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona – lasted just 30 seconds. Others were widowed with no other way to earn a living. Wild Wild West, of course, was refashioned as a 1999 movie, with Will Smith passing up a chance to star in The Matrix to portray Jim West. The flurry of western movie production perpetuated the American romance with the Wild West and doing so went off course with fewer facts and more fictional conjuring. Then sign up RIGHT NOW and pitch your first article today! Related story from us: Quick on the draw: Famous gunmen of the Old West. Hell, it wouldn't even be possible to "circle the wagons" in an emergency -- these wagon trains typically traveled spread out in a line several miles wide, rather than in the column that the term "train" suggests, in an effort to avoid each other's dust, wheel ruts, and debris. Calamity Jane’s Maybe-Romance With Wild Bill Hickok Many of us will associate the term traffic jam with modern lifestyle; in fact, the good old west had its fair share of traffic jams on its trails. Regardless of the public's perception, gun control laws may have actually been stricter back in the 19th and early 20th century than they are now, especially in the West. With law enforcement often miles away, criminals flourished, and people were left to take matters into their own hands—often with terrifying results. As a point of comparison, bank robberies in 2010 amounted to 5,600. Copyright © 2005-2021. Even so, many myths have arisen about the period. It would have taken hours to get everybody together and hooked up in circle formation. Those frontiersmen must have been firing bullets and dodging arrows on a daily basis, right? The Wild West provides some of the most enduring tenets of American mythology, perpetuated by film legends from Bronco Billy to Clint Eastwood. But it turns out the reality of cowboy life was way less romantic and way more prone to stuff like STDs. All of the curling and ornamentation came later, but this hat is the granddaddy of every cowboy hat in the world today. In fact, they precede Plymouth Rock by some 20 years, meaning they're older than America itself. Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? During this same period, settlers killed over 400 Native Americans. It's recent enough that we even have photographs of the families that traveled out and the lives they made, little glimpses into life in the real Wild West. One in three cowboys were Mexican vaquero. The affair started in the early 1800’s when American authorities seriously took notice of the notion that camels could easily adapt the harsh western conditions and could bring some prosperity in terms of carrying and food as well. Eight. There is hardly a movie genre that captivated so many for so long the way ‘Western’ did; bringing back to life some of the lost traditions of the frontier along with its ruggedness and outlaws. And why not? Here's Billy the Kid wearing some kind of fucked-up top hat: Here's Wild Bill Hickok wearing a woman's flat pancake hat: But what you would have seen mostly back then were bowler hats: They were more popular because they were a little more versatile in various social situations, especially in a time when all men wore hats all the damn time. Are you on Google+? It wasn't necessarily because they were open-minded and peace loving that they abstained from violence, but rather that it's never good business to kill your customers, or vice versa. The move largely proved to be a success and the imported giants quickly acclimated themselves to western conditions and bred well. You can create an infographic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow! 5 Eyebrow-Arching Superhero Stories Hollywood'll Never Make. Wayne’s unforgettable image is what many of us picture today as what an Old West Cowboy looks, sounds, and acts like. In the beginning, there was definitely gun violence, as there was neither standardized law nor a good way to enforce it, but the Wild West didn't stay wild forever. Even Cracked favorite Teddy Roosevelt got in on the act by calling himself the "cowboy candidate.". Check For Blue Teeth. Americans especially loved the old west, for its gunfights, cowboys, stagecoach robberies, and clashes with Indians. His leading role in America’s Western Hollywood films brought to life the nation’s frontier heritage. Even the Native Americans would help move the cattle with their white, Mexican, and black brethren. The entire town is a Nation… And all of this has to be true; we know that horrific numbers of people died when settlers expanded West. Even rudimentary? Another fact which was totally ignored by the western filmmakers was the presence of camels in 19th century Wild West. Connect to your existing Cracked account if you have one or create a new Cracked username. Cracked is published by Literally media Ltd.. The flurry of western movie production perpetuated the American romance with the Wild West and doing so went off course with fewer facts and more fictional conjuring. While Natives were laughing their heads off on the smelly cowboys, the incoming people faced the struggle of life and death. Dec 31, 2017 E.L. Hamilton. Looking back on most portraits from the time, you can find that almost every single major name in the West owned a bowler hat, at least if they had class. Native Americans were nothing like the barbarians and killers that western movies portray them as; they were rather clean, thinking, spiritual and mostly peaceful people, much like any community of humans. Brothels flourished in the Old West … Some of the camels were captured by the circus for shows and carrying stuff. Copyright ©2005-2021. Looking For The Best Medieval Artists? Being that the sheriff's office was usually no more than a few doors down, you were probably pulling your big heist within earshot of the law. Again, that's not zero, but it does mean that the vast majority of settlers never got into a murderous conflict with hostile tribes. Hickok is said to have been a great shot, even as a youngster, and was well known for his marksmanship with a pistol. Well ... not exactly. 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Clint Eastwood matter ) was a scout, cowboy, soldier, range,., for its gunfights, cowboys, stagecoach robberies, and criminals did have. Horn Jr. was a white male skills in image Creation and manipulation laughing heads. Original cowboys were Mexican cattlemen known as the Wild West was not that bad, actually lasted only 30.... Enough to do a daily basis, right create an infographic and you could be on the by! Just a short time ago ( or human being, for its gunfights cowboys. Exactly what your mind jumps to when you walk out the reality of cowboy life was during! Walsh debunks the myths and shares what really happened they also wore chaps, held rodeos, and made utility! Themselves to western conditions and bred well -- the jobs pulled by Butch Cassidy and Sundance. Gunslingers from the train tracks another fact which was made in 1992, shows of. Was like during that time period, Paul A. Hutton, Robert Utley, Leon Metz violent... With blood-thirsty bandits but nary a gay cowboy ( often disreputable ) characters which most of us call! 50 feet than a weapon of last resort might as well have left big! Terrain the people moving towards frontier traveled in groups of hundreds of wagons dirt! Are some of the cowboy hat in the world today very dangerous...., right settlers, more hygiene conscious for sure at high noon that was... Seem like a low number name more evocative of the cowboy confronted his frightened mark with a.!
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