Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 2: Development of the Plains, c1862–c1876 - 1 The development of…
Full specification wording
Option P3: Key topic 2: Development of the Plains, c1862–c1876 - 1 The development of settlement in the West: Introducing law and order in settlements, including the roles of law officers and increases in federal government influence.
The rapid expansion of Western settlements created severe law and order problems, necessitating new systems of justice.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The rapid expansion of Western settlements created severe law and order problems, necessitating new systems of justice. Early mining towns and cow towns often relied on vigilante groups due to the absence of formal law enforcement. To establish control, the federal government increased its influence by appointing US Marshals, who oversaw large territories, and federal judges to try serious cases. At the local level, town marshals and county sheriffs were elected or appointed to keep the peace, often facing dangerous conditions. For example, Thomas Smith was hired as town marshal in Abilene to enforce a weapons ban, demonstrating the transition from lawlessness to regulated settlements. This growing federal and local infrastructure was crucial for transforming chaotic frontier towns into stable communities.
What earns the marks
- Identify the reasons for lawlessness in early settlements, such as rapid population growth and transient populations.
- Explain the role of local law officers, including town marshals and county sheriffs, in maintaining daily order.
- Describe the function of US Marshals and federal judges in representing federal government authority across vast territories.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of early law enforcement methods, including the transition from vigilantism to formal justice systems.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the roles of different law officers.
Put it right: US Marshals were federal appointments covering whole territories, while sheriffs and town marshals were local.
Assuming the federal government had immediate control.
Put it right: Acknowledge that federal influence increased gradually as territories developed and required formal justice.
Believing vigilantes were official law enforcement.
Put it right: State that vigilantes were unofficial citizen groups that took the law into their own hands before formal systems were established.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples of law officers, such as Thomas Smith or Wild Bill Hickok, to support your points about local law enforcement.
- When discussing federal influence, mention the appointment of territorial governors and judges as key methods of control.
- Link the need for law and order directly to the rapid growth of mining and cow towns.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P3: Key topic 2: Development of the Plains, c1862–c1876 - 1 The development of settlement in the West: Introducing law and order in settlements, including the roles of law officers and increases in federal government influence. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary role of a US Marshal in the early development of law and order in Western settlements?
Listen
The rapid expansion of Western settlements created severe law and order problems, necessitating new systems of justice. Early mining towns and cow towns often relied on vigilante groups due to the absence of formal law enforcement. To establish control, the federal government increased its influence by appointing US Marshals, who oversaw large territories, and federal judges to try serious cases. At the local level, town marshals and county sheriffs were elected or appointed to keep the peace, often facing dangerous conditions. For example, Thomas Smith was hired as town marshal in Abilene to enforce a weapons ban, demonstrating the transition from lawlessness to regulated settlements. This growing federal and local infrastructure was crucial for transforming chaotic frontier towns into stable communities. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the reasons for lawlessness in early settlements, such as rapid population growth and transient populations. Explain the role of local law officers, including town marshals and county sheriffs, in maintaining daily order. Describe the function of US Marshals and federal judges in representing federal government authority across vast territories. Evaluate the effectiveness of early law enforcement methods, including the transition from vigilantism to formal justice systems. A common slip: Confusing the roles of different law officers. Instead, US Marshals were federal appointments covering whole territories, while sheriffs and town marshals were local. Exam tip: Use specific examples of law officers, such as Thomas Smith or Wild Bill Hickok, to support your points about local law enforcement.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Law and order
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Federal vs local authority
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Frontier society
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Law and order
- The system of justice needed as rapid expansion of Western settlements created severe problems, with early mining towns and cow towns often relying on vigilante groups.
- Federal vs local authority
- The federal government increased its influence by appointing US Marshals and federal judges, while at the local level town marshals and county sheriffs were elected or appointed to keep the peace.
- Frontier society
- Chaotic frontier towns were transformed into stable communities through growing federal and local infrastructure, moving from lawlessness to regulated settlements.
Label the diagram
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1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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