How long did cowboy era last

And no wonder: the lawlessness of the time provided plenty of drama, and the lonely windswept territories, mountainous and arid, provided the cinematic backdrop. The image is indelible: A lonely cowboy clopping across the plains. Cue the Ennio Morricone soundtrack. In fact, the era known as the Wild West, or the American Frontier, began after the Civil War in and ended around The untamed territories were noted for their lawlessness, which gave rise to wild, rowdy, unrestrained, disorderly, and unruly behavior—which is what made for such great stories in print and on screen.

The cowboy, the quintessential symbol of the American frontier, circa Naturally, Hollywood glamorized the truth. Cowboys were illiterate and worked hard, dirty jobs. The territory also included parts of Kansas and Nebraska , but these lands were taken back when the Kansas and Nebraska territories were created in Fort Laramie becomes the first trading post in Wyoming.

A smallpox epidemic north of San Francisco killed over 60, natives. As Far West has grown to some 5, people, the anti-Mormon hysteria increases and the Mormons form their own army. After a number of skirmishes between the two factions, Missouri orders the Mormons from the state. Comanche war party by Richard Luce, courtesy First People.

On May 10, Mormon leader Joseph Smith moved his band of followers to Illinois to escape the hostilities they experienced in Missouri. When the Texas army and Rangers went after them, the Battle of Plum Creek was fought on August 11 resulting in a decisive defeat of the Comanche.

Fremont begins his exploration of the West along with guide Kit Carson. Primary Menu Skip to content. The Old West. Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. English Naval officer, Sir Francis Drake. Trading with the American Fur Company. Santa Fe Trail Map. Paintings of grazing bison and Western sunsets hang in homes across the USA.

Would you have been a settler in the s? Are you always looking for the next adventure or new experience? What other parts of the world would you explore? There are always new adventures for those brave enough to look!

Make sure you take a Wonder Journey--look up more information on this topic online or at your local library! American Indians are native to North America. It's best to take a Wonder Journey to find what you're looking for. Thanks for commenting! Hey, Wonder Friend, you can say that YOU don't care about buffalo--that's your opinion--but please don't generalize. We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. When was the Old West? What caused Americans to move west? What was it like to live in the Old West? Wonder What's Next? Tomorrow's Wonder of the Day will have you questioning everything!

Try It Out Find an adult friend or family member to help you with these activities! When European Americans moved west, they took land that Native Americans had lived on for generations. Then, summarize what you learned for a friend or family member. Ask if he or she knows of any other historical figures like Chief Joseph that you can learn more about. Many families started new lives in the Old West.

The journey was rough and often dangerous. Often, they traveled to their new home along the Oregon Trail. Play to find out if you have what it takes to journey west! How is the Old West represented today? Ask a friend or family member to help you find a book, piece of art, or movie inspired by the Old West. Discuss what you found. What parts of the Old West does it represent? Is this representation similar to or different from what you've learned about this era?

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