The haunting specter of hanging trees holds a sway on the American imagination, conjuring images of rough-and-tumble frontier towns struggling to impose law and order in a land where violence was endemic. This study examines several criminal cases that reveal the realities of the role hangings played in the administration of frontier justice.

For the first time, there is now a textbook that addresses state standards for the teaching of New Mexico history at the high school level. In this thoughtful work, the authors delineate New Mexico's role in the shaping of the United States by carefully analyzing how the rich histories of the many cultures of the region affected and in turn were affected by influxes of newcomers seeking health benefits, minerals, farms, relaxation, and new beginnings.Supplementing this richly illustrated and accessible textbook is the optional Teacher Guide Book on CD for use with "A History of New Mexico...