Summary
The American frontier was a fascinating place. As our country pushed toward the Pacific, people at the edge of our nation were met with both opportunities and challenges. It’s no wonder it’s referred to as the Wild West! But someone had to bring order to the chaos. Meet legendary lawman Bass Reeves. He escaped slavery and found refuge among Native American nations in Indian Territory. The push by the U.S. government to expand westward and encourage settlement led to new hardships—but also enabled Reeves to become one of the first U.S. marshals. In Indian Territory, Reeves rose to the top of his field. But he faced new challenges as Jim Crow laws pushed him out of the marshal service. Saddle up, if you’ve got what it takes!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Bass Reeves:
- What is one new thing you learned about bass reeves?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining bass reeves.
- Draw or give one example of your own.