Netflix’s upcoming series American Primeval promises to bring viewers face-to-face with the raw, violent, and untamed reality of the American frontier. The Wild West has long been romanticized in cinema and literature, but the historical reality is far more brutal and complex than the myths that have endured. To fully appreciate the themes and setting of American Primeval, one must delve into the history of the United States following its independence, the internal conflicts that shaped the nation, and the nature of the Wild West itself, both as a historical period and as a cultural phenomenon.
The United States formally declared its independence on July 4, 1776, with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. However, independence was not secured until the conclusion of the Revolutionary War in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. The early years of the fledgling republic were fraught with political instability, economic challenges, and territorial disputes. The newly formed government had to navigate the balance between state and federal authority, while also expanding westward into lands occupied by Indigenous peoples. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the country, marked a turning point in America’s expansionist ambitions, setting the stage for the relentless push westward that defined the 19th century.
The Wild West refers to the period of westward expansion in the United States during the 19th century, roughly spanning from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. It was a time of unregulated lawlessness, violent frontier justice, and continuous clashes between settlers, outlaws, and Indigenous tribes. The expansion was fueled by the ideology of Manifest Destiny—the belief that Americans were destined to spread across the continent. However, this expansion came at a great cost, particularly to Native American tribes, who were displaced, subjugated, and often exterminated in the process.
One of the most defining aspects of the Wild West was the near-absence of a strong centralized government. Many frontier towns were ruled by their own makeshift legal systems, enforced by local sheriffs or vigilante groups. Lawmen such as Wyatt Earp and Pat Garrett became legends, as did outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid. The frontier was a place where justice was often delivered at the end of a gun barrel, and disputes were frequently settled through violence. The towns that sprung up around gold rush sites and cattle trade routes became notorious for their saloons, gambling dens, and duels in the dusty streets.
The relationship between settlers and Native American tribes was another key aspect of the frontier experience. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, forced Indigenous tribes off their ancestral lands, leading to events like the Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Native Americans died during forced relocations. As settlers pushed westward, conflicts with Indigenous peoples intensified. The Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, where the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors defeated General Custer’s forces, and the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, where hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children were slaughtered by the U.S. Army, were among the most infamous confrontations. The violent clashes between Native American resistance and the U.S. military marked the brutal reality of America’s expansionist policies.
Another defining characteristic of the Wild West was the economic boom driven by cattle ranching, mining, and railroad construction. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 connected the East and West coasts, accelerating migration and trade. Ranchers and cowboys played a significant role in shaping the economy, driving cattle from Texas to markets further north. However, this era also saw the rise of corporate control over the frontier, with railroad companies and land barons amassing vast fortunes while workers and small-time ranchers struggled to survive. The Gold Rush of 1849, which drew thousands to California in search of fortune, contributed to the chaotic and often violent nature of frontier towns.
Internally, the United States faced significant civil strife. The most devastating conflict was the American Civil War (1861-1865), fought between the Northern Union and the Southern Confederacy over the issues of slavery, states’ rights, and economic power. The war resulted in the abolition of slavery, but the Reconstruction period that followed was fraught with racial tension, political corruption, and continued violence. Even after the Civil War, social and political divisions remained, manifesting in later conflicts such as the labor strikes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, racial segregation laws, and the long-lasting struggle for civil rights.
The mythology of the Wild West has been perpetuated through popular culture, particularly in cinema. Western films have depicted the era through a mix of reality and myth, often focusing on the lone gunslinger archetype, the struggle between civilization and savagery, and the concept of frontier justice. Classic films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and Unforgiven (1992) portray the moral ambiguity of the era, while more recent productions like Deadwood (2004-2006) and 1883 (2021) strive for a grittier, more historically accurate representation. American Primeval is expected to follow this trend, offering a brutal and unfiltered look at the frontier’s harsh realities.
Netflix’s new series aims to strip away the romanticized illusions of the Old West and present a world where survival was brutal and often depended on one’s ability to wield power, whether through force, cunning, or sheer luck. The Wild West was a place of lawlessness, but also of opportunity—a land where legends were made and lives were lost in equal measure. By delving into the historical realities of the period, American Primeval has the potential to redefine how modern audiences perceive the frontier experience. The question remains: will the series succeed in portraying the true essence of the Wild West, or will it, like many before it, fall into the trap of myth-making?
