Introduction
The Wild West myth has long been a cornerstone of American cultural identity, portraying the United States as a nation forged through rugged individualism, frontier expansion, and violent confrontations, particularly during the Indian Wars of the 19th century. This myth encapsulates American exceptionalism—the belief that the US holds a unique destiny to spread democracy and civilisation, often justified through violence. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these attitudes extended to American imperialism overseas, as seen in the Spanish-American War and the annexation of territories like the Philippines. This essay examines how cultural artifacts from this period reveal attitudes towards imperialism, linking them to historical behaviors such as territorial expansion and the ‘civilising mission’. Using Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The White Man’s Burden” (1899) and the political cartoon “School Begins” from Puck magazine (1899), alongside an outside source on the frontier thesis, it argues that the Wild West myth reinforced imperial attitudes by framing violence as a necessary tool for progress. This perspective is informed by background from The American Yawp, which highlights the era’s expansionist policies (Vandergriff et al., 2023).
The Wild West Myth and American Exceptionalism
The Wild West myth emerged from the Indian Wars (roughly 1860s-1890s), where conflicts between US forces and Native American tribes facilitated westward expansion. This narrative, popularised in dime novels and later films, depicted Americans as heroic pioneers taming a savage wilderness, embodying exceptionalism. As Turner (1893) argued in his frontier thesis, the frontier experience shaped American democracy and individualism, but it also justified violence against indigenous peoples as part of manifest destiny. Indeed, this myth portrayed Native Americans as obstacles to civilisation, rationalising their displacement and the wars that ensued, such as the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
These attitudes mirrored broader imperial ambitions. The American Yawp notes that by the 1890s, with the frontier ‘closed’, the US turned overseas, annexing Hawaii in 1898 and engaging in the Spanish-American War (Vandergriff et al., 2023). Exceptionalism here implied a duty to ‘uplift’ other nations, much like the purported civilising of the American West. However, this often masked economic and strategic motives, leading to violent occupations.
Cultural Artifacts Reflecting Imperial Attitudes
Cultural artifacts from the era vividly illustrate these attitudes. Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” (1899), written in the context of the US-Philippine War, urges imperial powers to take up the task of civilising ‘savage’ peoples, despite the burdens involved. Lines such as “Take up the White Man’s burden—Send forth the best ye breed” reflect a paternalistic view, portraying colonised populations as childlike and in need of guidance (Kipling, 1899). This echoes Wild West attitudes, where violence against Native Americans was framed as a regrettable but necessary step for progress.
Similarly, the cartoon “School Begins” (1899) from Puck magazine depicts Uncle Sam as a schoolteacher instructing unruly pupils representing newly acquired territories like the Philippines and Cuba. Native figures are shown as ignorant and resistant, while older ‘students’ (e.g., California) have been successfully ‘civilised’. This artifact satirises yet reinforces the imperial mindset, linking it to the Indian Wars by implying that just as the West was tamed through education and force, so too would overseas possessions (Dalrymple, 1899). Both sources reveal a cultural attitude of superiority, where imperialism was seen as a benevolent extension of American exceptionalism, though arguably masking exploitation.
Linking Attitudes to Historical Events and Behaviors
These artifacts directly connect to historical behaviors. Kipling’s poem was published amid the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), where US forces suppressed independence movements with brutal tactics, resulting in over 200,000 civilian deaths (Vandergriff et al., 2023). The ‘burden’ rhetoric justified such violence, paralleling Indian Wars tactics like the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, where US troops killed hundreds of Lakota people under the guise of pacification.
Turner’s frontier thesis (1893) provides further context, arguing that frontier conquest fostered American vigour, but it overlooked the violence’s human cost. This outside source highlights how exceptionalism through violence in the West set a precedent for imperialism; for instance, military strategies from Indian campaigns were applied in the Philippines. Generally, these attitudes led to behaviors like territorial annexations and suppression of resistance, as seen in the US’s refusal to grant Philippine independence despite promises.
Conclusion
In summary, the Wild West myth, rooted in violence during the Indian Wars, underpinned American exceptionalism and extended to late-19th and early-20th-century imperialism. Artifacts like Kipling’s poem and the “School Begins” cartoon reveal paternalistic attitudes that justified expansionist behaviors, linking domestic conquest to overseas ventures. This analysis underscores the myth’s role in shaping historical actions, though it also invites reflection on imperialism’s limitations, such as resistance and ethical costs. Understanding these connections highlights how cultural narratives influenced policy, with implications for critiquing modern exceptionalism.
References
- Dalrymple, L. (1899) School Begins. Puck Magazine, Library of Congress.
- Kipling, R. (1899) The White Man’s Burden. The Kipling Society.
- Turner, F. J. (1893) The Significance of the Frontier in American History. Project Gutenberg.
- Vandergriff, B. et al. (2023) The American Yawp: 19. American Empire. Stanford University Press.
