Problems of law and order - early settlement of the west Flashcards
Why was the gold rush bad for law and order?
.Created huge migration and mass settlement that existing systems of law enforcement in California were unable to deal with
What were the mining camps issues with law and order?
.Claim jumping .Salting a claim .Prostitution .Gambling .Tension between different ethnic groups
In the mid 1850’s what did many people do when their Gold rush dream failed?
Moved to San Francisco
When could territories apply to be a state?
When it had a population of 60,000
Who controlled the territories?
The Federal Government
What did the federal government do?
.Decide on the laws
.Appoint a governor
.Appoint a US Marshall, who could appoint deputies
When could territories elect a sheriff?
Population of 5,000
What was a sheriff?
Similar powers to a Marshall but no legal training
How much teritorie did a Kansas sherrif have to cover?
200,000 Km^2
What did mining communities do to try and create a system of law and order?
.Got together to write down rules that would govern their mining district
.The community also created its own court with a judge
What did vigilantes often end up doing?
Lynching people
Examples of racism
.White Americans encouraged to murder Californian Indians by the government
.Laws were passed that discriminate against Chinese - taxed more
