Although a problem the health issues weren’t the most severe of problems in the newly set up towns however typhoid occurred and source B says “Some people were very ill, but there were no deaths” hence the reason it was not a severe problem.
There was also a lack of sheriffs and town marshals and there were no vigilantes which meant many people did what they wanted to do rather than what was legal.
2. Why were towns in the west often violent and lawless places?
Towns in the West were often violent and lawless places because there was a no real law and order and criminals got away with crime. The town marshals and sheriffs selected could easily use their superiority to their advantage in many situations.
With drunkenness being major issue prostitution occurred it was an opportunity for women to take advantage of men and make lots of easy money. Alcohol was cheap and at easy access from illegal saloons in tents. The cheaper the alcohol was the more men would buy making them more drunk and without much law and order , sheriffs and town marshals there was not much chance of these tents being found out .
Men came from all around the world. This was also a big problem as they didn’t know how to communicate with one another
“But having come from all corners of the earth, did not know each other and who to trust.”
This shows there was a lack of sheriffs and town marshals as the government was far away meaning there were very few people covering the large area this meant law and order was not always put into practice well.
3. Analyse the part played by
- Vigilantes and ,
- Women,
In dealing with the problems of living in early towns in the West.
Vigilantes
Were groups of people (secret) who told people wrong doing would not be put up with in the towns. By putting these groups in place there aim was to get rid of criminals and crime from the towns. They did this by hanging people weather they were innocent or guilty. Vigilantes could have been seen to have been there because there were not enough sheriffs or town marshals.
Source D:
“This notice was pinned to the body of a man hanged for murder by vigilantes. ‘Vigilantes Around!!! No more Murders!!!’ Behold the fate of this man. The same terrible end awaits all murderers…public security is too sacred not to be protected, even to the unpleasant means of Lynch law.”
The above shows Vigilantes would take matters into there own hands most of the time resulting in murder. Each group had its own leader. Henry Plummer lead a group know as the ‘Roughs.’ Henry Plummer was a sheriff who misused his authority to his advantage.
Vigilantes enforced the law strongly but in the process ended up killing many innocent victims for acts they did not commit.
Women
Most women that went to early towns in the west were mainly prostitutes they would make a lot of money out of drunken men.
However, not all women were involved in prostitution. Some women stayed with their husbands to keep their families together, some helped out in saloons. Also there were a few women who helped out the sick.
Source B: “The women were particularly kind, leaving their own work to care for those who were ill.”
This source clearly shows that many women went to help the people in need of help. Sometimes this meant leaving there families behind especially after the outbreak of typhoid.
The women played a major role in the town’s growth and without them things such as schools would not have been built and one can argue without them it would have been a much less civil place.
American West
