Feature Good as Gold The absence of formal government on the American frontier emboldened miners to take powers usually reserved to the state, subjecting criminals to their own brand of vigilante justice. Andrea McDowell | Published in History Today Volume 72 Issue 9 September 2022 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. USA Related Articles A History of Chop Suey California becomes a State of the Union Popular articles Paracelsus: Revolutionary or Mystic? When the Men Came Marching Home from the Great War