Problems of Law and Order Flashcards

1
Q

How did the American civil war have a significant impact on lawlessness?

A

-Young men from the defeated southern states often resented the victorious US government and its laws
-Large numbers of young men had been traumatised by the experience of the war and found it hard to fit in to “regular society”
-the war devastated the south’s economy, leaving many without jobs

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2
Q

what was “hell on wheels”

A

new towns created by the railroads in the West

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3
Q

Why were “cow towns” the most lawless railroad towns of all?

A

because cowboys who had just been paid after weeks driving cattle enjoyed drinking and fighting

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4
Q

what was “hell on wheels” towns notorious for?

A

gambling, heavy drinking and prostitution

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5
Q

what did cowboy pay-day celebrations attract?

A

saloons and brothels to the towns; along with gamblers, swindlers, prostitutes and outlaws

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6
Q

How did Abilene’s ( a cow town) population boom and why was this bad?

A

it boomed from 500 to 7,000 once railroad reached it in 1867 which lead lawlessness to boom too

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7
Q

In 1870, who did Abilene appoint as town marshal?

A

Thomas Smith

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8
Q

What did Thomas smith do?

A

he issued a ban on carrying guns and established a forceful reputation, using his boxing skills to knock out cowboys who disobeyed - this enforced the law quite successfully

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9
Q

When and how did Thomas smith die?

A

November 1870 he was shot and then killed with an axe while trying to arrest a suspected murder

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10
Q

Who did Abilene appoint after Thomas smith and when?

A

Bill Hickok in April 1871

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11
Q

How effective was Bill Hickok at enforcing the law?

A

-commanded fear and respect among the cowboys
-did very little to enforce the law, spent all his time gambling in the saloons
-by the end of the year the town leaders sacked him.

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12
Q

What did the town leaders after sacking Bill Hickok decide to do.

A

they decided to stop the cowboys and their herds from coming to the town

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13
Q

Trains replaced stagecoaches for transporting valuables. This made them a target for what?

A

train robberies

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14
Q

What was the reno gang?

A

-a group of civil war deserters, con-men and thieves who terrorised communities in the West.
-They also bribed local law officers to avoid arrest

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15
Q

What did the Reno Gang do?

A

In 1866, they carried out a train robbery, breaking open a safe to get away with $16,000

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16
Q

What did the owners of the safe that was robbed by the Reno Gang do?

A

they hired detectives from the Pinketon National Detective agency to hunt down the gang - they caught John Reno

17
Q

What was the Pinketon National Detective agency?

A

a private detective company which were used extensively in the West to track down outlaws and bring them to justice

18
Q

How did the railroads and electric telegraph lead to an overall increase in federal government influence?

A

improved communication between law officers

19
Q

Gangs of outlaws who were too powerful to control, intimidated ………

A

whole communities into supporting them