During the Railroad era, the postal system became more standardised. William Ryus wrote a journal of his travels along the Santa Fe Trails, he similarly encourages the myth: “while the west was still looked upon as ‘wild and wooly’, and in reality was fraught with numerous and often time, murderous dangers.” In 1861 he came at a mail driver at the age of 21 he states that his greatest fear was that some white man would get frightened at the sight of reds and kill on not like that idea of the white trace being afraid of them, as opposed to the fear of Native Americans themselves. This demonstrates that there was an omnipresent fear of Native Americans however it was not them directly but the fear of difference with the white race. Ryus gives
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The history behind it could then be evaluated with regards to these records and findings. Ultimately Santa Fe Trail was made to be dangerous, through exaggeration and mythology using various primary sources to encourage that myth. The literary and popular culture legacy, through dime novels and spaghetti westerns encouraged this notorious myth. Women, traders faced similar dangers and faced them stereotypical gendered ways, and the politicians both faced in localised government and national government did what they could to protect those travelling as well prevent further disputes with Native Americans in particular. The Native Americans were not the threat they were perceived to be, the only element that was consistent to all elements and unaffected by humans was the terrain and weather. These influences made the trails more difficult to travel generally, the heat during the day, freezing cold at night and the bare arid ‘desert’ made the travellers lack water and food for the whole 800 mile journey. The Santa Fe Trail legend is unsubstantiated and therefore should not be trust by current and future academic, although more detailed research could be done into the direct treaties and the individual Native Americans tribes relationships with
The history behind it could then be evaluated with regards to these records and findings. Ultimately Santa Fe Trail was made to be dangerous, through exaggeration and mythology using various primary sources to encourage that myth. The literary and popular culture legacy, through dime novels and spaghetti westerns encouraged this notorious myth. Women, traders faced similar dangers and faced them stereotypical gendered ways, and the politicians both faced in localised government and national government did what they could to protect those travelling as well prevent further disputes with Native Americans in particular. The Native Americans were not the threat they were perceived to be, the only element that was consistent to all elements and unaffected by humans was the terrain and weather. These influences made the trails more difficult to travel generally, the heat during the day, freezing cold at night and the bare arid ‘desert’ made the travellers lack water and food for the whole 800 mile journey. The Santa Fe Trail legend is unsubstantiated and therefore should not be trust by current and future academic, although more detailed research could be done into the direct treaties and the individual Native Americans tribes relationships with