Cowboy

As far as history is concerned, prior to the settling of what we now, the great United States of America, minority groups of inhabitants are the first to established their living in that continent. Their lifestyle, tradition and culture are admirable as well as unique. The first inhabitants of the area are peaceful living natives of the land. However, an entry has changed everything. The phrase mentioned above seemingly denotes the vast riches accumulated in American West from the national expanse that occurred during the westward American expansion.

As per history, it connotes the successive flow of riches in their area considering every line of factors such as trade, climate, events and other causation proofs that are evident even in today’s generation. Analyzing the phrases in the statement reveals claims of chain successive economic blooms, which is stated without adequate basis. However, the aggressive entry of American people over the west side has greatly affected the livings of various inhabitants in the area.

Tremendous effects of this entry have brought countless lives to experience suffrage in the early west side. The advancing foreigners tremendously hit the established communities of the native inhabitants causing massive degradation as well as damage in the land of these natives. The advances may have triggered advancement in the side of American people; however, there are those minority individuals and communities that suffered the damage of their actions. Moreover, the land filled with natural blessings has been ravaged by the suppressive citizens of America.

It is, indeed, a fact that the west side during those period of time is immersed in massive content of natural resources, geographically, topographically, climatic and most of all naturally. Another fact is, the resources have brought immense conquer in the land of the natives. For the American people, the west side has become their garden flowing with milk and honey. In this essay, we shall take a glimpse back in the past and analyze the scenario that occurred before and compare it in the statement imposed by Martin Ridge.

The claims of this treasury build-up are refuted in this paper. Various factors need to be considered before adhering in these false causations. Subjective narration without substantial basis cannot support this kind of claims, especially if the claim is way to opposite from what is reality. We shall analyze the pieces of this statement piece by piece, and critically scrutinize it to prove that such wordings are not even appropriate. “The history of the American West is, almost by definition, a triumphal narrative…”

Starting from the first part mentioned in the statement, connoting “triumphal narrative” depicts an entry of galore, glorious moment in the history and an event that everybody looks forward. However, does this statement really cover the facts embedded in the American West? Judging the factors, such as topographical, geographical and the natural advantages present in the place, can we still conclude the same conclusion mentioned in the statement? Crude to say but actually, the United States that we see today is very different compared before when the American people is still starting to colonize the west side.

Stephen H. Long, an American explorer who explored the some areas of the Louisiana Purchase in 1819, first gave the term, “Great American Desert” to illustrate the area roughly between the 98th parallel and the Rocky Mountains. In a series of maps and journals, Long described this region as “wholly unfit for cultivation and uninhabitable for those dependent on agriculture. ” Americans largely view Long’s negative impression of the trans-Mississippi as a barren wasteland for decades and most did not become interested in settling there until after the Civil War.

During 1803, the President Thomas Jefferson has had a secret conversation through a secret note that he has given to the Congress ordering for an expedition into the place west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. He has felt that a quality and smart military man with perhaps a dozen of handpicked crew can victoriously plot the entire route and do it on an estimation of roughly $2,500. Jefferson’s message is regarded secret due to France ownership in that territory. If this is found by the French Government, the expedition can be branded as trespassing.

This is the first view of those who seen this great desert; however, western boosters have come up with a plan in order to lure settlers in the area by promoting the “The Myth of the garden. ” In addition, during this period, France has offered a piece of territory in the west side, which is the whole Louisiana Territory, for $15,000,000. That same year, President Tomas Jefferson has his mind patched up and agreed to take the offer. Surprisingly, after an overnight, United States grew by about one million square miles, from the Mississippi to the Rockies and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.

This event has greatly caused widening in the part of the America. During the late 1800’s, around 1870s and 1880s, climatic changes have begun to occur in this arid wasteland. This has encouraged the inhabitants to settle and stay put in this area. American settlers have started rampaging, packing up their luggage and migrated in the land of “Mythical West Garden”. This became the start of the native’s nightmare. The native settlers during this period are Indians and other minority groups; however, they have been driven away from their homelands by the aggressive and domineering Americans.

The stampede has occupied 430 million acres of land, which is actually twice the size of the nation. Furthermore, these settlers carved out ten new states until the three western-based commercial “empires” are established. Around 1865 and 1890 the American settlers have began their territorial rerouting and their way of income have been through mining, especially gold and silver; farming; and the cattle industry. During the westward expansion, widespread beliefs, activities, and objects influenced the daily existence of western emigrants. Moreover, the American settlers discovered the wide resources present in this area.

The long protected forests and the divine natural up-springs are all tarnished by the American advancement and modernization. Mining and deforestation has become two of the most devastating hazards accompanied by the advancement. The natural resources of the native Indians are greatly mistreated by the Americans. The trees are cut down in order to be replaced by the houses, establishments, and ranches for the American community. Homeland of the natives, and their territories have been pushed away without being considered by the Americans until, major forests and natural resources are greatly damaged and reduced.

In the end, the original forestry respected by the ancestors of Indian cultures and traditions have been tarnished and destroyed by the advancing colonizers. During the same year and time, Cowboys have been popularized. The estimate of 35,000 males has entered the profession of being a cowboy. 25% of them are black, 12% are Mexican and majority of them are White Americans, 63%. The herding of domesticated animals have lead into territorial overtake since, ranch requires these land hectares in order to place their animals. In the end, the space between Indians and American has grown smaller, particularly in the side of the Indians.

Because of this continuous threat, reckless advances and cruelty of American colonizers, the North America’s Indian forces started their civil war with the Americans. Around 1865, the Indian people have fought fiercely using their axes, bow and arrows and spears. However, they are still no match from the gunpowders and advance tools of the Americans. In the end, large reduction from their population occurred. This event has caused the forces of Indians to be weak and fragile. Many of their women have become slave workers for the Americans. Some have been persecuted and disregarded.

In the end, the Indians have become useless human beings. In 1860s, the Western Frontier has emerged and their definite aim is to transform the savagery of civilians battling over territories, towards a decent, moral and civilized individuals. The frontier reproduces American democracy and individualism – the frontier requires Americans to develop new institutions and “free land makes free men. ” The frontier migration targets the expanse of territory as well as accumulation of riches; however, savagery and conflicts have become the exchange of such actions.

Racial oppression not only for the Indians but also towards other cultural backgrounds occurs. The race of Hipics, Blacks and Chinese has been greatly looked down by the Whites. The Hipics during those times are traders as well Chinese, and these people are considered low class merchants; hence, the treatment pattern for these people as also low class. Degradation, racial and social discrimination are also the biggest issues during this period. The blacks, aside from Indians, are the ones who suffered the tremendous discriminative character of the whites. They are regarded as lowly individuals and most of them are treated as slaves.

People during this time are greatly quarrelling mostly about their material properties and belongings, but little do they know that there are people being stepped aside and being ignored by their reckless actions. In the end, the effect boils down to those discriminated races and they are the ones that suffered because of the reckless and greedy actions of the Whites. One of the biggest historical events in this period is the Gold Rush, wherein the substance of interest is non-other than gold. The out-migration of non-natives following the Gold rush has given the Indians renewed numerical importance.

The discovery of Gold in California and other nearby mines has lead easterners to migrate in the said are in order to have their part in this gold galore. This event has caused great multitude of immigrants coming from local and foreign lands. The situation has damaged mines; natural resources and influx of people have led into chaotic way of life. The situation of the people especially the original inhabitants of the area, which is the natives, has greatly worsened by the migratory frontiers. Going back to the statement of Martin Ridge,

“The history of the American West is, almost by definition, a triumphal narrative for it traces a virtually unbroken chain of successes in national expansion” This is indeed a refutable statement. The Americans may have entered the land of Mythical Desert Garden; however, there are many people that have suffered because of their ruthless actions. It may be triumphal because they have overtaken the natives, but the natural resources and the craving of their hands have been diminished. In the end, the statement remains doubtful for there are so many sacrifices that are heavier that the rewards they have taken.

The American West currently, has created a particular adventurous wild picture of wild animals, cowboys, Indians, stagecoach ambushes and outlaws. The actual American west of that era was not as glamorous as usually exhibited. Army scouts, Native American Indians, outlaws as well as wild animals actually lived during that time in the West. Stage fights, savage battles, gunfights, and train holdups which are depicted as ordeal phenomenon during that time were not usual and daily nightmares. As currently seen, the dramatic Wild West myth is actually a puffed-up overstatement of the actual western frontier.

The whole picture of the western life myth was put into factual creation by use of sculptures, paintings, pulp magazines, dime-novels, live performances television and films. William Frederick, usually acknowledged as Buffalo Bill, has been over the years credited for assisting in creating and conserving a long lasting West legend. His Wild West show assumed the actuality of the western life as well as glamorizing it to make appealing show for audiences from the eastern side (Mckanna, 1995). This made permanent preservation for the Wild West legend.

The Actual Wild West When one is thinking of the American west, the pictures that draws to his mind are those of outlaws and policemen engaging in battles on the dusty back streets, cowboys in open ranges leading cattle as well as those of buffalo herds being chased by Indian hunters on horseback. Such kin of images are usually common in movies, books throughout America. But as much as they are not fictionalized, they also don’t exhibit the real American West which was much far less dramatic than depicted in these pictures (Michael, 1992).

Just like a principiante which is first exposed to the society, the west was actually unrecognized place. The west was advocating for its labeling as well as being modified into the dramatic pictures that were usually shown when people thought of the west. The west became an answer to many people who were asking for a promising better and fresh life in the 1800’s. This promise was normally inspired by the open space of the area, as it became an open zone for new starts as well as imaginations. Individuals flocking the area as well as some fortunate settlers found the place quite promising for a better life.

They became the people who made the west myth to become a reality. But for others this promise did not come as they expected. The life here appeared to be tougher and harsher hence to them the truth of the west was rougher. A promise for the individuals struggling in the suburban, rural areas, eastern zone became a promising notion. This gave this people the hope and some life guarantee that the hardships they were experiencing were not going to last forever. The Wild West development shows acted as an approach of conserving the open promise without the failure which it usually shown in actuality.

These shows were taking the actual West and then glamorizing it for the audiences in the eastern side in order to provide them with an exciting appeal. The people who were involved in these show employed the western life to indicate an over exaggerated yet appealing picture that the audience in the eastern side were expecting and would be intrigued by. The shows became union of actual life in the west and some theater work which was engineered by the show designers who made them authentic and entertaining and at the same time enhancing the truth regarding the American west.

The shows proved t be reality and expressed the romance expected as well as adventure. Reality vs. Myth The Wild West, apart from giving the eastern people some promise, were acknowledged by the frontier lobby for becoming the most significant achievement in the history of America. They emerged as winning ideas in patriotism, history of the country as well as adventure that helped to manage and create some lasting spirit of the undiscovered west. In addition to this, the Wild West helped to capture the hearts on many audiences in America as well as Europe (Stephen, 1992).

To manage this popularity, the shows, in addition to being just shows had other actions encompassed in the shows. These included; theatrical reenactments, trick performances, Wild animals and all kinds of funny actors from the frontier which had all included in the adventurous program. Some of the theatrical reenactments were battle scenes, characteristic western scenes as well as hunt scenes. Also in the exhibitions were the shooting and extensive shooting shows that were displayed together with the trick shots.

The audience was most exhilarated and stimulated by the competitions which came animals and people’s races. Other exciting occasions included rodeo shows that included rough as well as dangerous acts which were acted by cowboys who used several animals. The shows started to encompass all modes of western actions which had any sort of appeal to the people who attended the shows. The Wild West shows’ origination was from the interest indicated by the eastern side of the wild and rough western frontier. Since by that time the actual west was not known, the audience of the shows started to believe in anything presented.

This east audience began to be enthralled by the west thus making the Wild West shows the answer to famous demands. The shows conserved the disappearing, unsettled and untamed world of the west as well as brought the audience some livelihood. Growth of the Wild West Shows According to Binnema (2002), Buffalo Bill was the first person to perform in the Wild West shows in Europe as well as in the United States of America. Buffalo’s shows were done in 1883 and went up until 1913. The shows were used to popularize several performers and personalities as well as romanticizing the American Old West version from the west.

Buffalo got the idea of the Wild West Show in 1883 after launching his first show in Omaha, Nebraska. He was later recognized as the greatest showman by then with full dominance of the Wild West show business. Buffalo’s motive was to help conserve the western way of living which he was brought up in and had great passion for. He turned the actual adventure of life into the first as well as the biggest outdoor show of the western America. He was acknowledged for being the first actual westerner to promote the western myth that had only been red in literature and novels or watched in plays.

Bill also helped to create as well as establishing the content and format of the Wild West shows. Although Buffalo Bill was acknowledged as the individual who started the Wild West shows in America, several people did contribute to its success. These included, Indians, military, scouts, Mexicans, cowboys as well as several other men from other heritages. Wild Bill Hickock, usually known as gunfighter, a dime novel hero and a marshal made big contributions to the success of the show also. He was famous to his audience for his act of genuine scout and dime novels (Faragher& Vine, 2001).

As time went on, other Wild West shows were organized with dozens of the shows following shortly after the first one. Several people with flamboyant names in the entertainment industry such as Pawnee Bill, Mexican Joe, Buckskin Joe as well as Dr. W. F Carver started to run the occasions. Women such as Kemp sisters and Luella Forepaugh also made contribution in this shows. However with all these, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show emerged as the most famous and the first show as well as the most successful Wild West show. Popularity

The extreme of the West Wild shows was at the turn of 20th century. The shows had attracted over 10 million fans as the audience who had attended the shows making a profit of about $ 100,000 in the first two years. The main reason for this popularity was that the easterners were very much enticed by the shows. They were willing and eager to have full enjoyment of the thrill as well as the danger of the west, thus the shows acted as an approach of making the west live a reality without involving the consequences as well as the risks associated with the actual west.

Through the Wild West shows, the people had their cravings for adventure satisfied. West shows took about 3 to 4 hours with large attraction of eastern audience. Most of the shows began with a horseback parade that was a main ordeal involving big crowds and several performers like the Congress of Rough Riders which was made up of marksman from several parts of the globe as well as the America’s future head of state, Theodore Roosevelt. He used to match the parade on horse back. Conclusion

Kasson (2000) claims that the Wild West shows made some significant picture in the history of America especially the American West. Although Buffalo Bill had played some major roles in representation of the west that is being seen today, so many other people and actors ass well as the influence of the easterners made the shows to be so successful. The shows of the Wild West come out as exaggeration of the actual American West that made it more appealing. It has helped informing the western myth that is currently usually mistaken with the actual American West.

Some of the events commemorated by these shows include the unique attributes, the settlers as well as the features of that era. The history of the frontier faction and the appealing pictures of the spirit of the Wild West are some of the legendary items left behind by the Wild West. References Binnema, T. (2002). Common and Contested ground. Cambridge: Harvard University press. Faragher, M. J. , & Vine, R. (2001). Why the west was Wild, retrieved on14 May 2009 from <http://www. americaslibrary. gov/cgi-bin/page.

cgi/aa/entertain/cody/show_1 Kasson, J. S. (2000). Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. New York: Hill and Wang. Mckanna, C. V. , Jr. (1995) Alcohol, handguns and homicide in the American west. Western historical quarterly 26, 4(winter): 455-482, retrieved on 14 July 2009 from http://www. jstor. org/stable/970849 Michael, M. A. (1992). New territory versus no territory. Western Historical Quarterly 23, 1 (February): 25-51. Stephen, A. (1992). Pioneers and profiteers. Western Historical Quarterly 23, 2 (May)179- 98.