Patriot's History: The Wild West (Chap 11)
Saloon Piano MusicRed River Valley, Marty Robbins
Get ALong Little Dogies
Back in the Saddle Again, Gene Autry
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Summary More manifest became our destiny, the right to own a piece of property. The westward deluge of humanity brought freedom, diligence, and industry. Chapter From squatter's rights to Homestead Act, the "Destiny" made "Manifest" to U.S. settlers was the guarantee of land. "Free soil," said Jefferson, a native right, could still be bargained for. If deeds for land incite aggression from the Indians, it means our views of property conflict - indeed, we can't confuse fair ownership with trespass (though admittedly encroachment did occur). Mistakes, as history would show, were made by all involved. The way out west began with Clark and Lewis. Pioneers progressed to Oregon in 1840, on a trail from west Missouri. "Forty-niners" would assail the gold discoveries at Sutter's Mill, while trails like Bozeman, Mormon, Chisholm prospered, and the mails arrived on stagecoach or by pony (the "express"), until the "Iron Horse" (with government largesse at times, but even more dramatic a success with private funds). And East and West would coalesce in Utah -- Promontory Point. Though few approved (Louisiana Purchase comes to mind), we moved ahead and bought Alaska -- Seward's 'lunacy'? And then Hawaii -- 'empire,' too, of "Liberty," as Jefferson had called the land. So was the West as violent as all the movies would suggest? In large part, no -- the guns were able to deter but not incite. And farms? Most failed, but the allure remained intact. And was the stripped environment because of industry? In part, but government was more to blame, for savvy private ownership, especially larger firms, was able to equip the west with tools, and with the knowledge that permits so many people to enjoy the benefits. |