Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Lawlessness in Early Settlements on the Plains (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How 'Lawless' was the American West? - Summary
People view the American West as lawless and wild. The early settlements in the West did suffer from a lack of effective law enforcement in the region.
In California, the discovery of gold in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush. This attracted hundreds of thousands of prospectors to the region. The population explosion overwhelmed existing law enforcement and legal systems. There was widespread lawlessness and disorder in gold-mining towns and settlements. With limited resources and infrastructure, local authorities struggled to maintain order and enforce laws. This environment resulted in high levels of crime and violence.
San Francisco was one of the major ports and settlements in California. It became a centre of lawlessness during this period. The city experienced a surge in population as gold prospectors and immigrants arrived in search of fortune. San Francisco developed a booming economy and diverse population. Alongside this came crimes such as theft, gambling, assault and prostitution.
However, the American West was not completely lawless. The US government had created laws. Law enforcement was the main issue. Many areas in the West operated with limited or no effective law enforcement. As settlements became more established, law enforcement improved.
The Impact of the Gold Rush on Law and Order in the Plains
Before the Gold Rush, there were low levels of migration to the American West
Migrant communities relied on each other to survive
Issues with law and order were uncommon
After the California Gold Rush in 1848, lawlessness became an increasing issue:
An Example of Lawlessness: San Francisco, 1851
In 1849, the population of the city of San Francisco grew to 25,000
The California Gold Rush fuelled this growth
Reasons for Lawlessness in San Francisco
Feature of San Francisco | Impact on law and order | Reaction of law enforcement |
|---|---|---|
By mid-1850, people had taken all of the gold out of their land. Ordinary prospectors worked for mining companies or moved to San Francisco to find other jobs | There were not enough jobs in San Francisco, leading to higher levels of unemployment. This caused a crime wave in 1851 | Law enforcement was very ineffective. A lot of law officials were corrupt. Crime was so bad that people could murder someone in public and get away with it |
In 1852, a famine in China increased Chinese migration to California from 2,000 migrants to 20,000 | Racism prevented many Chinese miners from working. Those who were successful faced robberies, the destruction of their homes and murder by white Americans | Law enforcement was very ineffective. Many of the law officials held racist opinions. The US government introduced laws that discriminated against Chinese migrants. For example, Chinese migrants could not be a witness in court |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This example of San Francisco can be used in an exam question asking about the consequences of lawlessness. Try to remember specific details to add to your exam answer.
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