Law and order up to 1876 Flashcards
How did the growth of mining and farming in the 1860s affect law and order?
Led to new targets for criminals, such as banks and trains
What different groups could clash in towns and settlements in the West in the 1860s?
Chinese and Irish migrants
Formerly enslaved people
Former Union or Confederate soldiers from the Civil War
What did gun makers do once the American Civil War was over in 1865?
Switched production to handguns and promoted them strongly
Why did deserters from the Civil War become formidable criminals?
They were trained and armed
Who were the Reno Gang?
A group of Civil War deserters who carried out several train robberies in the 1860s
How much did the Reno Gang steal between 1866 and 1882?
Over $100,000
Who were the James-Younger Gang?
A group of Civil War veterans who robbed banks and trains in several states between 1866 and 1876
What were “cow towns”?
Towns where cowboys drove large herds of cattle to be loaded onto the railroad and sent to the cities
Who were the Texas Rangers?
A small force created by the state who enforced the law and defended against possible attacks by Plains Indians
Who were the Pinkerton Detective Agency?
A private company formed in 1851 hired to protect banks and trains from criminals
What did the US Federal Government do in the 1860s and early 1870s to deal with lawlessness in the West?
Nothing - they left it to US marshals and judges
How many deputies did the US Marshal in charge of Western Arkansas have? What impact did this have
200
They helped to reduce crime in the territory by carrying out regular patrols
What did the federal government start to build after the Civil War ended?
More courthouses and jails
What impact did the growing population in the West have on official law enforcement?
More counties reached a population of 5,000, allowing them to elect a sheriff
Who was the famous town marshal of Abilene in 1871? What did he ban?
Wild Bill Hickok
He banned carrying guns in the town
Why was Wild Bill Hickok’s contract in Abilene not renewed?
He killed a man in a gunfight
Why could US Marshals not help sheriffs or town marshals?
They could only investigate federal crimes, such as robbing the US mail service or selling arms to Plains Indians
What was the US Army not allowed to do after 1878?
Assist lawmen in tracking down and catching criminals
