89: Closing the Wild West: (Wounded Knee, Buffalo Bill & the 1893 Colombian Expo)

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 April 2021

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“I wish to impress upon your minds that what you are about to witness is not a performance in the common sense of the term.” This is the story of the Wild West’s end and the close of the frontier. The West is settled. The buffalo are gone. The US government is seeking to assimilate Native Americans. In this environment, a religious movement promising a restoration of traditional indigenous life, called the Ghost Dance, is spreading across the continent. Fearful of it, the government sends the military to arrest Lakota Ghost Dancers. It ends in tragedy near Wounded Knee Creek. For Native Americans, this is the end of the frontier. Meanwhile, William Cody, a.k.a., “Buffalo Bill,” is keeping the Old West alive through an incredible performance: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. He’s obsessed with authenticity, only hiring actual cowboys, vaqueros, Native Americans, gunslingers, and others. For Bill, progress is the story of the frontier. Professor Frederick Jackson Turner says the frontier is over and the nation has progressed. Frederick Douglass has a different view. We’ll take in all these different perspectives as the sun sets on the Old West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You know what's better than listening to history that doesn't suck?
0:02.5	Experiencing it live from New York City.
0:04.8	Join me, Professor Jackson, under the lights for storytelling with video and live musicians.
0:09.3	This show won't be recorded for the podcast and can only the experienced live-in person
0:13.9	or view live stream.
0:14.9	Shows are January 14th, 15th and 16th.
0:17.6	Go to htdspodcast.com and click the live-in NYC link for more info and tickets.
0:23.0	That's htdspodcast.com to experience history live.
0:27.0	History that of course doesn't suck.
0:30.1	Advisory.
0:31.3	This episode includes racially charged violence and language that may be difficult for some listeners.
0:36.4	Listener discretion is advised.
0:39.3	History that doesn't suck is a biweekly podcast delivering a legit, seriously researched
0:43.2	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
0:46.5	If you'd like to support htds or enjoy some perks, like ad free early releases or patron
0:51.6	exclusive mini episodes, please consider giving at patreon.com forward slash history that
0:57.2	doesn't suck.
0:58.2	To keep up with htds news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
1:10.2	It's the afternoon of May 19th, 1908, in Washington, D.C.
1:15.2	17,000 spectators crowd into a massive circus-style tent.
1:20.0	They fill every row of stadium seating while somewhere on the floor and still others stand,
1:24.9	just glad not to be one of the countless heartbroken hundreds turned away at the door.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from ProfGregJackson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of ProfGregJackson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.