Lawlessness: GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, lawlessness is a lack of law and order in an area. The American West often has a reputation for lawlessness.

In the early American West, lawlessness was common. New settlements were established incredibly quickly, making law enforcement nearly impossible. This is seen in the development of San Francisco in 1849 and the crime wave in the city in 1851. In addition, the development of the cattle industry also increased lawlessness through the creation of cow towns.

There are well-known cases of lawlessness in the American West including Billy the Kid and the Gunfight at the OK Corral. However, by the 1880s, lawlessness was not common in the American West. Even in the worst cow towns, incidents of murder were very rare. People began to give more support to federal law officials which improved law and order in most settlements.

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