How did the frontier compare to the mythology of the Wild West?

Although it is rooted in certain aspects of history, the construction of the Wild West was more of a literary and, in some cases, political device.

Despite the newly acquired territory in the west, many 19th century Americans continued to live in over-crowded urban centers where there was little work and rapidly increasing poverty. In order to encourage people to move out west, the government introduced programs like the Homestead Acts, which gave men a certain amount of land in the west for little or no money. Going west was framed and promoted as an exciting patriotic action, helping to settle the wild landscape and improve the nation's agricultural production, while also taking control of their individual futures and destiny.

Unfortunately, once they arrived, Homesteaders and other settlers learned quickly that the reality of the West was quite different than it had been described. In addition to the unfamiliar terrain and climate, the West was still occupied by a number of Native tribes that were actively and aggressively trying to protect their land and communities. Not only was the environment dangerous, but the fortunes that many had expected to build never quite materialized. Homesteading probably sounded great in theory, but most of the people in urban centers knew nothing about farming and couldn't afford the equipment and assistance that was required to set up and operate an independent farm. As a result, a large percentage of people either went back east or found work in the mines or with the railroad.

The mythology of the Wild West, then, is a re-framing of reality in which settlers and Homesteaders weren't failures; rather, they were heroic patriots working to tame the savage frontier. This mythology survived in large part because people found the stories exciting and romantic. It's also important to remember that this mythology served a greater purpose. Had the public known the truth about westward settlement, its very likely they wouldn't have volunteered to relocate and Manifest Destiny would have been an abject failure.