Farmers and Ranchers Flashcards
What freedoms did women have in the settlement of the Great Plains?
Women were granted rights and freedoms not available in the states, such as the rights to vote and own property.
What was the minimum population required for US territories to become eligible for statehood?
The minimum population required was 60,000.
Why did territories want to attract large populations of single women? (3 reasons)
Territories wanted to attract single women for three reasons: (1) each woman counted as one more person, (2) men were more likely to settle if single women were present, and (3) men and women together could create new families.
What happened as buffalo vanished on the Great Plains?
Ranchers began grazing cattle on the Great Plains.
How were cows identified on the Great Plains?
Cows were identified by a rancher’s brand.
How many cattle were being raised across the Great Plains by 1880?
Nearly 5 million cattle were being raised.
What led to conflict between cattle and sheep on the Great Plains?
The overpopulation of cows and lack of fences
What percentage of cattle did Plains ranchers regularly lose during brutal winters?
Plains ranchers regularly lost 40% to 80% of their cattle during the winter.
What was the economic motivation for raising cattle in Texas?
Cattle purchased for $3 to $5 in Texas could be sold at a railhead for $30 to $50.
How long did the long drive for Texas ranchers typically take?
The long drive took two or three months to complete.
What advantage did Texans have in cattle ranching compared to the Great Plains?
Texans used fences, which made cattle management less chaotic.
What changed in the economic dynamic once railroads extended into Texas?
Corporations began purchasing ranches and transporting cows directly on trains.
resumption act of 1875
Restored the nation to the gold standard (caused deflation)
