Key Issue 3: Cattlemen and Cowboys

Question 1

What influenced the rise of cattle-ranching?

Answer 1

MEXICO

• lots of cattle ranches
• Mexico own Texas; when when Mexican ranchers leave Texas, they also leave behind all of their cattle

THE EAST

• during the 1850s, beef became wildly popular
• ranchers became very wealthy and the price of cattle rose

THE CIVIL WAR

• Texans go to Civil War in 1961
• when they come back, they find 5 million longhorns from cattle that have been left to independently breed

Question 2

Where were longhorn cattle sold, and why was it difficult to get them here?

Answer 2

• cattle was only worth something if gotten to the North and to the East
• the journey was difficult, as longhorns carried Texas fever, which easily spread to other longhorns and would kill them after a few days
• Homesteaders would also turn ranchers away if they tried to go North

Question 3

Why was the 1860s transcontinental railroad so important?

Answer 3

• Pacific Railways Act was signed in 1862, which starts its construction
• it allowed government quicker access to California and Oregon
• law officials could prevent crimes more efficiently
• easy transportation of goods
• encouraged growth of Western cities

Question 4

Discuss the Long Drive.

Answer 4

1860: Oliver Long drove first herd from Texas to Colorado
1868: Charles Goodnight, Loving’s partner also drove this trailer (dubbed Goodnight-Loving Trail)

Question 5

What discovery did Joseph McCoy make, and what did it lead to?

Answer 5

• McCoy saw that money could be made by moving beef by rail to Eastern cities and Indian Reservations
• this led to Abilene, the first cow town; it meant that ranchers did not have to risk driving their cattle through Homesteader’s land
• more cow towns were created, and had violent reputations

Question 6

What was the first conflict between ranchers and Homesteaders?

Answer 6

• rancher’s cattle trampled Homesteaders’ crops

- Homesteaders fenced off water supply to protect them, but this meant that cattle could not drink as much

Question 7

Discuss the life of cowboys.

Answer 7

• job held by lots of ex-soldiers (after Civil War)
• job was boring and mainly was watching cattle in Winter
• the pay was very low, and many just spent it on women and gambling
• see book for list of equipment

Question 8

Why did the Open Range come to an end?

Answer 8

• East demanded better beef; John Illif tried to crossbreed longhorns with English Herefordshire cattle but the offspring could not survive on the Plains
• some states banned cattle on Plains, reducing the Open Range
• herds over-grazed, as there were many ignored cattle at this point
• winter of 1886-1887; 30% of cattle died

Question 9

Why did the Range Wars happen?

Answer 9

• Homesteaders tried to stop cattle being driven through their land
• Homesteaders did not want an Open Range
• Homesteaders fenced off areas and water supply with barbed wire

Question 10

What was the Johnson County War?

Answer 10

1892.

• small ranchers felt that barons were stealing their land, and Homesteaders their cattle
• James Averill and Ella Watson accused of cattle theft and hanged by vigilantes
• The Regulators were gunmen hired by cattle barons
• Homesteaders and small ranchers gathered 250 men of their own to face the Regulators
• Regulators call the army and few get hurt

This event signalled the end of the cattle barons’ power.