What Life Was Like For Settlers In The Wild West

Clearly, life in the frontier wasn't exactly Little House on the Prarie. Settlers unused to backbreaking work, or farming, had to learn very quickly. Even harder, though, was getting used to the weather, from the bitter winters in the midwest to the dry climate and drought in the southwest, writes North Carolina State University. Strong winds and rains damaged crops and houses, while the lack of water killed livestock. Even those who came for the gold rush still were away from their families, and messages back home took weeks to arrive, via stagecoach. Unless they lived in the towns, many settlers didn't have any neighbors close to their own homes.

Settlers also had to deal with a lot of conflict, either from Native Americans who already lived in these lands, or with fellow settlers who had lost money and were looking for criminal opportunities. Settlers had to make do without the benefits of cities, where many came from. Many women had to source fabric and make their own clothes. Families had to pool together money so they could hire a teacher, who in turn taught all the nearby children. 

Regardless, while life in the Wild West was hard, settlers wanted a fresh start ... and maybe a way for them to deal with these struggles, in fact, was by romanticizing their difficulties. as for people today, well, maybe it's better to just stick to playing Oregon Trail. 

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