Desperation Drives Settlement

Early Western films presented a superficial portrayal of the West, focusing on entertainment without addressing the harsh realities faced by settlers. The idea of moving to an undeveloped land with no infrastructure was not a choice for the successful or comfortable; it was a last resort for those escaping dire situations. Many immigrants, like the Irish fleeing the potato famine, were driven by desperation, not adventure, highlighting that the settlement of the West was rooted in survival and necessity.