Who were Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp?

• The Lincoln County War was a conflict between two factions over control of the county's economy.
• Wyatt Earp is best known for his role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
• Billy the Kid, also known as Henry McCarty, was an outlaw who became famous during the Lincoln County War.
• Billy the Kid was an outlaw who killed several people, including lawmen.
• In 1876, Billy the Kid killed Sheriff Brady and Deputy Bell in retaliation for their involvement in the murder of Jim Dolan.
• Both men played significant roles in the Wild West era of American history.
• Billy the Kid was eventually captured by Pat Garrett and executed.
• After killing Sheriff Brady and Deputy Bell, Billy the Kid fled to Fort Sumner, New Mexico Territory.
• Pat Garrett led a posse that captured Billy the Kid on December 23, 1880.
• Pat Garrett's book "The Authentic Life of Billy, The Kid" provided insight into the life of Billy the Kid.
• Billy the kid

  1859-81, grew up in mining camps in New Mexico, often in trouble for thievery, engaged in cattle rustling and horse stealing, notorious for being able to escape prison.

  Billys Private War- After the death of a friend in the war (Murphy) Billy swore to kill everyone responsible for the death. He and his gang had many hideouts around the country.
• Pat Garrett

  New sheriff, put to track Billy down, captured gim and brought him to court
• Billys capture escape and death

  Billy the Kid was sentenced by a judge to deart but escaped from the Lincoln County, New Mexico jail house on April 28, 1881, killing two deputies on guard. He avoided capture until July 14, when he was ambushed and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett at the ranch home of Pete Maxwell, Fort Summer. Billy the Kid is buried in Fort Sumner, New Mexico
• Significance of Billy the Kid

  Powerless people liked the way he stood against the big northern businessmen who were dividing up America for themselves.

  Most of his involvement in violence was as a hired gun in a war between cattle barons and those who dared challenge their control of land.

  Justice system in Lincoln Country was too weak and corrupt to deal with Billy and his gang
• Wyatt Earp- before October 1881 


  Got into law enforcement in 1874, arrested for fighting but helped Sheriff arrest a group of cowboys who were making trouble in town. Mayor offered Earp position of Deputy Marshal, later moved to Arizona 1879 became Marshal. 1880 he was hired by rich business owners in Tombstone to bring order to the town. But town became more lawless, cowboys began to rustle cattle and rob stagecoaches from 1881. Rumours spread that Wyatt and his 2 brothers had been involved in the stagecoach robberies, strongly denied it.
• Wyatt Earp- From October 1881


  gunfight in October 1881 near Tombstones OK Corral (place where horses kept), Earp brothers shot dead members of ranching families (ones who accused them of theft). The brothers (all Marshals) protested they had done no wrong, only trying to defend themselves as ranchers had opened fire first, high doubt. Violence continued 1882, until one Earp brother was shot, to retaliate Earp shot dead the man responsible, caused uproar in Tombstone. Earp brothers fled from Tombstone, many hated the violent approach to law keeping, many said Wyatt was a murderer