The Wild West: Cowboys, Custer and Crazy Horse

Beginnings

Historians generally refer to the Wild West period, also known as the Old West, as spanning between 1865 and the turn of the century. But the groundwork for this period of unprecedented expansion and change across North America was being laid much earlier.

In 1776, 13 British colonies declared independence. Together, they create the United States of America.

After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the U.S. acquired vast lands west of the Mississippi River, doubling its size. This ignited a movement of settlers, traders, and adventurers eager to explore and claim new territories. The idea of Manifest Destiny — the belief that Americans were destined to expand across the continent — spurred migration westward throughout the 1800s.

But there was a problem: the thousands of Native American people who lived within it. One of these tribes was the Cherokee. They lived, hunted, and farmed on land that the founding fathers wished to integrate into their new country. Yet the plants, animals, and even the earth itself were cornerstones of their spiritual beliefs.

In 1830, U.S. President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. Native American tribes could now be legally moved from desirable land in exchange for unsettled prairie land west of the Mississippi River. Disease, hunger, and fierce weather killed more than a quarter of the 15,000 Cherokee driven west to modern-day Oklahoma.

Railroads, Town Development and the Law

The expansion of the railroad was crucial in transforming the West. The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 connected the East and West coasts, facilitating migration, trade, and the transportation of goods such as cattle and minerals.

Railroads also helped establish towns along their routes. Many “boomtowns” sprang up overnight near mines or rail stops, thriving until resources ran out or railroads moved on.

By 1870, almost 500,000 migrants had moved west, but there were other dangers. In addition to bringing white settlers, the trains also carried money and gold from the mines. It was only a matter of time before a payload like that started attracting the wrong kind of attention.

In 1873, notorious outlaw Jesse James robbed a train in Iowa, escaping with $3000. Jesse James paved the way for notorious bank and train robbers such as Butch Cassidy and his gang, known as The Wild Bunch.

And it wasn’t just the trains that were targeted. The new towns that sprang up throughout America were often terrorised by drunken louts who thought they could rob without any comeuppance. This heralded the rise of law enforcement, which led to the rise of local sheriffs, marshals, and vigilante groups.

Famous lawmen like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Wild Bill Hickok became legends for their efforts to impose order. Clashes between the law and outlaws like Billy the Kid contributed heavily to the Wild West’s dramatic lore.

There was no training for law enforcement. It was just that if you could be tough and stand up to the challenge, you could be a sheriff.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast

The Rise of the Cowboy

As demand for beef boomed after the Civil War, many men were drawn to the cattle industry. Out on the trail driving cattle to markets, their days were long, hot, dusty, and physically demanding. The Mexican sombrero — meaning a hat that provides shade — became typical of the white cowboys. As they rode through the prairie, their trousers were protected from wear and damage by thick leather chaps. The spurs on their boots clicked and rattled against the ground when they walked, but when they were in the saddle, the metal tips helped them guide their horses more precisely.

The growing number of cowboys creates opportunities for entrepreneurs as well. A young German-born American businessman designed a new style of work trousers able to withstand the rough labour of miners and cowboys. In the 1870s, he produced his first pair of blue jeans. They proved hugely popular, and the young immigrant, named Levi Strauss, became a household name.

The image of the cowboy evolved into the quintessential American persona. He represented the principles and values of a typical American. He had a sense of freedom that very few people had and most people longed for.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast

When a farmer invented barbed wire in 1874, the era of the cowboy came to an end.

It was cheap, lightweight and effective at keeping animals in place, rendering the role of the cowboy useless. The new railways were another nail in the cowboy’s coffin. There was little need for driving cattle over long distances to market when trains were crisscrossing the country.

Resistance

White settlers didn’t just pass through the West; they stayed, claiming the land as their own.

Native Americans viewed white migration as an invasion. Pioneers had this idea of Native Americans as lesser, and therefore they should be moved out of the way or simply killed.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast

The US Government tried to appease the Native Americans with promises and treaties, but the result was always the same: Native Americans lost their land.

Things finally came to a head at The Battle of Little Bighorn. Fought on June 25-26, 1876, the battle was a significant conflict between the combined forces of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, led by Crazy Horse, and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Custer. Taking place near the Little Bighorn River in present-day Montana, the battle ended in a decisive victory for the Native American warriors, who overwhelmed Custer’s troops, resulting in the death of Custer and much of his command.

However, it had little lasting impact.

Sitting Bull and his followers fled to Canada after the battle to avoid the wrath of US troops. Crazy Horse and his tribe spent almost a year evading US soldiers. But fierce conditions forced him to surrender in May 1877. Hoping for food and shelter, he was instead taken to jail, where he was bayoneted to death by a US soldier.

In the years that followed, tribes were moved to reservations—tracts of less desirable land chosen by the U.S. government. By the start of the 20th century, around 200,000 Native Americans survived—about half of their population a hundred years earlier. With the land now under government control, the era of the Wild West came to an end.

Legacy

Despite the end of the Wild West era, there was still a great hunger for the tales of rugged and rebellious cowboys.

Authors produced thousands of short books known as ‘dime novels’, which romanticised the age. Westerns proved hugely popular in Hollywood’s fledgling movie industry. 

For 60, 70, 80 years, Native Americans were largely portrayed as the enemy on film. I think it's really difficult to change a perception once it's been rooted in decades of history.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast

These epic Westerns attracted massive worldwide audiences, generating billions of dollars for the movie industry. Iconic actor John Wayne appeared in 80 Western movies during his lifetime—more than half of his total. Today, the genre continues to attract the biggest directors and actors in Hollywood, including Quentin Tarantino, Clint Eastwood, and Brad Pitt. But modern movies often take a different approach to the story of the Wild West.

There has been a shift. It's hard to identify exactly why it happened. It took 80 years to build up the perception that Native Americans were the bad guys. It's going to take time to reverse that to the way it should be.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast

Hollywood is not alone in trying to redress the balance. In 2010, the U.S. government published an act apologising for the violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on Native people. Across the U.S., Native Americans are still battling to be heard and improve their quality of life.

Separating fact from fiction and acknowledging the dark side of that era of American history is just as important as highlighting the ideals. You can't ignore the tragedies ​​while romanticising the idea of the cowboy.

Chris Wimmer, host and creator of the Legends of the Old West podcast