Law and Order in the West Flashcards

What did "lawlessness" mean in the American West?

It meant weak law and order. Many crimes went unpunished in new towns.

Give two reasons why law and order was hard to keep in the West.

Towns grew fast and had few police. Travel took days over huge distances.

Name two common crimes in the West.

Horse theft and cattle rustling.

Who kept the law at county level in the West?

The sheriff. He was elected and could call a posse to help.

What did a US marshal do?

He worked for the US government. He enforced law across a large district and hired deputies.

What did a town marshal do?

He kept order in a town. He broke up fights, arrested drunks, and enforced local laws.

What is a posse?

A group of local men called by a sheriff to chase suspects.

What were vigilance committees (vigilantes)?

Groups of citizens who took the law into their own hands. They sometimes punished suspects without fair trials.

What were miners' courts?

Meetings of miners to settle claim arguments. They made local rules and chose juries.

What was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency?

A private detective company. Railroads and banks hired it to track robbers.

Who was Billy the Kid?

A young outlaw in New Mexico. Sheriff Pat Garrett shot him in 1881.

Who was Wyatt Earp, and what happened at the O.K. Corral?

He was a lawman in towns like Dodge City and Tombstone. He fought a gun battle in Tombstone in 1881.

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