Final answer:
In the 1800s, the 'Wild West' was less violent than portrayed by popular media, with early gangs like nightriders and bushwhackers employing violence for control. Outlaw gangs did not have a uniform dress to identify their members, and daily life involved struggles with environment and economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1800's, the myth of the Wild West contrasted sharply with its reality. While dime store novels and later, Hollywood films, depicted an untamed landscape filled with continuous outlaw activity and lawlessness, the truth was that violence and outlaw gangs were not as prevalent as they were portrayed. These early gangs, like nightriders or bushwhackers, often engaged in violence as a tool for social and political control, particularly in the South during the Reconstruction era. The most infamous of such groups was the Ku Klux Klan that emerged in the late 1860s. However, when considering a distinctive dress or symbol to identify members of outlaw gangs in the western states, there is no single uniform or accessory that universally applied to all members of these disparate groups. Some may have worn specific bandanas, hats, or other clothing items to signify their allegiance to their gang or leader, but these were not standardized across all gangs. Notorious outlaws such as Jesse James or Billy the Kid became known for their criminal endeavors, but not necessarily for wearing a specific 'uniform'.
Importantly, these outlaws did not make up the majority of the population in the West. Most violence occurred sporadically in mining towns or during range wars, and daily life for most cowboys, ranchers, and settlers involved grappling with the challenges posed by weather, disease, and economic hardships.