The Wild West Flashcards
How was violence reduced in Abeline?
Guns were banned
Who and what year were cowboys banned from Abeline?
Wild Bill Hickok banned cowboys in 1872
Why were banks easy targets for criminals?
Most towns had poor law enforcement, with few sheriffs and marshals, so banks were easy targets
How was cattle rustling made more difficult?
Ranchers began branding their cows, however changing the brand often happened
Where did the James-Younger Gang rob banks, stage coaches and trains?
Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and West Virginia
When did the James-Younger Gang start committing crimes and when did they end?
1866, lasted until 1876
What did Jesse James do 3 years after the end of the James-Younger Gang?
Organised a new gang and renewed his criminal career
When did Jesse James die?
1882
What was Billy the Kid’s real name?
Either Henry McCarthy or William H Banney
What age did Billy the Kid first kill a man?
18, although he may have first killed at 14
What was Billy the Kid involved in at an early age?
Cattle rustling
How did Billy the Kid gain his reputation as a top gun fighter?
During the Lincoln County war of 1878
What happened to Billy the Kid in 1880?
He was tried and sentenced to death for the murder of Sheriff William Brady from Lincoln. He escaped jail and killed two deputies while doing so
How many men did Billy the Kid claim to have killed, and what is the real figure thought to be?
21 men by his 21st birthday, thought to only really be 4 men
What did Wyatt Earp start his career as?
A buffalo hunter and horse thief
What was Wyatt Earp’s job in Wichita and what happened?
A lawman, but was sacked for fighting
Where did Wyatt move after he was sacked in Wichita and what did he do?
Moved to Dodge City to be a Deputy Marshal
What is Wyatt Earp most famous for?
Shoot out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. He and his brothers overcame two gangs, the Clantons and McLaurys
What happened to Wyatt’s brother in 1882 and what did he do?
His brother was shot, so he hunted down and killed the man he suspected was responsible
Why is Wild Bill Hickok famous?
As a scout, gunman and fighter of Indians
How many men is Wild Bill Hickok supposed to have killed, but how many are actually known about?
100 men, but only 7 are known about
Where was Wild Bill Hickok the marshal of?
Abeline
Why was Wild Bill Hickok sacked as Abeline marshal?
He shot one of his deputies
When and how did Wild Bill Hickok die?
Died in 1876 after being shot in the back of the head by a hired killer
Why did cow towns have particularly bad reputations for crime?
Once a year the towns would be invaded by cowboys who would spend their wages in gambling houses and saloons, this attracted criminal types
