Was the Wild West Really Wild? | What Really Happened: America's Wild West MEGA Episode | Nat Geo

What was it like in America's Wild West? National Geographic goes back in time into the history of America's Wild West. This America's Wild West MEGA episode examines the start of manifest destiny and the gold rush that sent people out west, to the railroad boom and cultural clashes, and finally, to the end of the frontier. Featuring four, full episodes: Gone to Texas - 00:00 ‘Manifest Destiny’ drives more and more Americans into Mexican-owned Texas in search of fortune. Mexican president Santa Anna welcomes them at first, employing them as border patrol against Native Americans. But when Mexico tries to consolidate political power, white Texans rebel, setting off a chain of violence that eventually sees enormous swathes of Mexico ceded to the United States. The Rush for Gold - 43:14 The United States now spans the North American continent from sea to sea, and the discovery of gold in California sparks a feverish scramble of get-rich-quick hopefuls to the far west. As the territories acquired from Mexico become states, the national debate around the westward expansion of slavery ignites a bloody four-year civil war. The Wild West - 1:25:36 During and following the American Civil War, a furious battle of the railroads is on. Union Pacific and Central Pacific race for government land grants into the heart of the west. Through the labor of mainly Irish Civil War veterans and Chinese immigrants, the rails finally meet at Promontory Point, Utah. The connection of coasts brings a boom in beef demand in the US; enter the American cowboy. The End of the Frontier - 2:07:52 Riding the new transcontinental railroads, a westward influx of U.S. citizens sets off another violent clash of native and imperial cultures. The late 19th century witnessed some of the most devastating massacres and battles, the beginning of assimilating Native children through abusive government boarding schools, and the close of the so-called ‘western frontier’. What Really Happened: America's Wild West | S1 Explore the World with National Geographic subscriptions: https://natgeo.com/ytngmagazine ➡ Subscribe: https://on.natgeo.com/4p5A0D6 ➡ Get more Nat Geo Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V5ZfHI ➡ Get wild with Nat Geo Animals Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V2EOLO And check out more National Geographic series and specials here: ➡ Disney Plus: https://on.natgeo.com/3q6on5p ➡ Hulu: https://on.natgeo.com/3Qor0Ko ➡ NGTV: https://natgeo.com/tv ➡ ABC: https://abc.com #NationalGeographic #AmericasWildWest #MegaEpisode About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for critically acclaimed storytelling around science and exploration. Discover amazing wildlife, ancient civilizations, hidden worlds, and the incredible wonders of our Earth. Through world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore, and care about the world. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: https://nationalgeographic.com Instagram:   / natgeo   Facebook:   / natgeo   Threads: https://threads.com/@natgeo X: https://x.com/NatGeo LinkedIn:   / national-geographic   TikTok:   / natgeo   Reddit:   / nationalgeographic   Pinterest:   / natgeo   The Untold Truth of America’s Wild West | What Really Happened MEGA Episode | National Geographic    • Was the Wild West Really Wild? | What Real...   National Geographic    / natgeo