Myth or Legend: Jesse James

A detailed Summary of Myth or Legend: Jesse James

When we think of the American West, we often envision a cowboy saving the day and riding off into the sunset. Nostalgia often sets in, and we begin to wish for simpler times when the good guys and the bad guys were distinguishable, when everything was so simple. Unfortunately, those times never existed; what remains in our minds is the romanticized version of the American West, synthesized by Hollywood. John Henry, Paul Bunyan, and Pecos Bill are a few examples of these manufactured myths, however, not all of them were tall tales. One of the true legends of the American West was Jesse James.

Jesse Woodson James was born in Kearney, Missouri on September 5, 1847. He was very skilled with horses and a natural leader but he was never a great marksman. Jesse joined a group of pro-Confederate guerrillas under the notorious William Quantrill during the Civil War. Some people say it was the cruel treatment from Union soldiers that turned Jesse and his brother Frank to a life of crime. Certainly during the war years they learned to kill while riding with Quantrill and Bloody Bill And

In October 1879, he was back to his old tricks with a new gang. They robbed a Chicago and Alton train. They robbed four more trains in 1881, the last one at Glendale, Missouri. Two of their gang members were captured after that one. After that the James gang was never heard from again. Jesse James' death is still a mystery. Many believe that former gang member, Robert Ford, not being able to resist the ten thousand dollar bounty, shot Jesse while he was straightening a picture in his own home. However, some stories claim the real recipient of Ford's bullet was a crook named Bigelow, reported to have been living with Jesse's wife at the time.

No matter how Jesse died, his legend still lives on. Jesse James and the gang were not a myth like many of the stories of the American West may be. Jesse James should not be confused with the fabricated and stereotypical West. The stories about him were very true and many people lost their lives and jobs because of the gang. It's quite easy to get caught up in all of the romance of the West but much of it is false. Jesse James on the

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Approximate Word count = 734
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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Myth or Legend: Jesse James

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