I have chosen to explore the life and contributions of Bill Tilghman, a notable figure in the American Old West. Tilghman was a lawman and gunfighter who, through his actions, contributed to the pacification of the lawless lands of Oklahoma by arresting many outlaws (Obert). His actions toward establishing a well-organized system during a very turbulent period in the history of the United States accentuate his significance and place in the development of the American West. He served as a marshal in different small towns participated in famous land rushes, and later worked as a film producer, preserving the Old West era for future generations (Obert). His doctrine of justice and skill at the frontiers only increased his historical importance. Seeing Tilghman’s life story and achievements allows him to learn how to cope with problems and achieve goals during the American frontier’s formation.
Your paper will be 4-5 pages, 12 font, one inch margins and Chicago citation style. (See Historians analysis assignment for links on how to cite using Chicago style)
A colorful character can be a villain or hero, a man or woman, a person of any race or ethnicity. A colorful character is simply someone that you believe made a significant historical contribution in the 19th century West or perhaps they participated in a key event. Or perhaps their lives had importance to a particular place or community. The parameters are pretty generous for choosing your colorful character. Colorful characters are not necessarily “famous” — not all important historical contributions get the historical attention that they deserve, right?
You want to be sure that there are good sources, at least 3 Secondary and at least 2 Primary sources —- pictures and images can be Primary, right? You can use our sources but you still need to do a little research for sources not listed in our syllabus.
You must be ON TIME so that folks in class have time to read a few of these and offer you some Feedback.
