The Life of Women and Minorities in the Old West - Assignment Example

Titus Rock Manickam Order No. 333246 04 November 2009 WILD WEST What was life like for women and minorities in the Old West? How did they adapt and get by in the harsh environment of time? What was life like for the Hispanics living in the West? The Chinese? Native Americans? Life was certainly not a bed of roses for the doughty women and minorities in the Old West. Women ran homes, owned herds of cattle, dressed like men and frequented bars, defied tribulations, made homes, and reared children in spite of being widows.

They were school teachers, cattle dealers and investors. They stood for what was right and bridged the gaps between the whites and native Americans. They fought for women’s emancipation and corrected unreasonable laws. These are the heroics of those that dared. The Chinese left their homelands and came in big numbers. They faced hardships, discrimination, but fought back to set right unjust laws. They labored and contributed in the building of the Unites States, especially California in a big way.

The Hispanics figure intrinsically in almost every segment of America’s activity be it political, military, economy, social or sports. The Hispanics have worked for America, fought wars for America and even played for America. The Native Americans were the original settlers in America. They were fierce, warlike tribes and held no fascination for the white invaders who came in droves with devastating weapons. There were conflicts in which the brave natives were massacred. Most of them live in their own colonies even now.

What are some of the myths most associated with the “Wild West?” When one says the “Wild West” what comes to mind? The Wild West conjures up images of large ranches in rolling, pristine landscapes with cowboys mounted on horses galloping around without a care in the world. It also makes one think of men facing each other gun in hand, ready to shoot it out. Lawlessness is another aspect that got blown out of proportion. Although some of these aspects might have existed, they were not allowed to continue unobtrusively.

Judges, sheriffs and marshals were duly dispatched to usher in law and order. The nation of America has grown due to the heroic efforts of its citizens. There are others who died facing harsh conditions in the Gold Rush. The never-say-die spirit in men and women roused the nation and has shaped it to what it is today. Sources: Chinese in the Frontier West, http://www.cetel.org/part2.html Earl Hunsinger, The Wild West of Myth and Reality, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-wild-west-of-myth-and-reality.

html Hispanic Threads in America, http://www.ma.iup.edu/Pueblo/latino_cultures/contrib.html Native Americans, http://www.americanwest.com/pages/indians.htm Women of the West, http://www.over-land.com/westpers2.html