I have often heard about the “Code of the West.” Was there, in fact, a list of rules for conduct in the Old West? Larry Dye Fenton, Illinois No “Code of the West” exists per se, but an ethic did develop on the frontier that came to define American character. Several traits were necessary for survival on the frontier: a man’s word is his bond, self-reliance, trust, hard work, honesty, perseverance, dependability and independence. These rules weren’t posted anywhere but were known by m


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