ìCowboysî and ìIndiansî: myth of the Old West
Visual arts & literature created a myth of settlers, Indian wars, etc. only loosely based on fact
Developed a cult of manhood & masculinity (direct opposition to womenís movement).
Changed conventional cultural roles of whites and natives: white settlers/pioneers became the ìtrueî inhabitants and owners of the land; natives became the invaders of white space.
Myth of ìthe last standî : was as much a reaction to political events elsewhere in the country (suffragism for blacks & women, increasing immigration, industrial labor unrest) as about western pioneering.
20th-century films love this myth -- Disney theme parks, too.