Topic 7 - Ranching and the Cattle industry

Question 1

How did the Cattle trade begin (1850s - 1860s) in the American West?

Answer 1

There was a huge increase in free-roaming cattle on the plains as many had escaped during conflict such as the Texan rebellon and the Civil War

Question 2

What encouraged people to try and make their fortunes from the cattle trade?

Answer 2

Demand for beef had grown in the growing northern cities so huge profits were available for raising cattle in the south, and selling them to the north

Question 3

Give 3 difficulties that were inherent in the long drive north?

Answer 3

• the journey could take between two and four months
• Indian raids occurred on the cattle trains
• Cattle could be hard to control and could stampede

Question 4

What was the role of John Iliff?

Answer 4

1. Started large-scale cattle ranching

2. Supplied railway construction crews, soldiers and Indians

Question 5

What did Joseph McCoy do?

Answer 5

Developed the first cattle town, which reduced the journey time of cattle drives

Question 6

What did Charles Goodnight do?

Answer 6

• Developed an important cattle trail to the north

- bred cattle to make them more suitable to the conditions of the plains (selective breeding)

Question 7

Name two of the reasons for the development of ranching on the Great Plains?

Answer 7

• eliminated the need for a long drive

- The wide open expanses of the Great Plains were good for raising cattle

Question 8

What was the significance of the town of Abilene?

Answer 8

• it was the first cattle town
• land had water and was good for grazing
• it was situated on the railroad, which gave easy access to the East

Question 9

What were two consequences of railways for cattle ranching?

Answer 9

1. They made it easier to deliver cattle to markets so cattle towns near railways grew
2. Cattle ranching on the plains grew due to increased access to growing railways

Question 10

Name two improvements to ranching?

Answer 10

1. Selective breeding between catte had started to take place
2. As buffalo herds were being wiped out, there were more grass for cattle

Question 11

What were the 3 main roles of the cowboy before the spread of ranching?

Answer 11

1. Cowboys drove cattle on the long trails to the markets and railroad towns in the north
2. They rode with the cattle and controlled stampedes
3. They sold cattle at the cow towns

Question 12

How did the spread of ranching affect the work of cowboys?

Answer 12

• cowboys work started to become more focused on individual ranches
• They no longer had to do the long drives

Question 13

Explain the reason for tension between cattle ranchers and homesteaders?

Answer 13

• they were competing for the use of the same land
• The cattle often trampled on the crops of homesteaders so homesteaders began to fence their properties. They usually fenced bodies of water too, which limited access to these for cattle

Question 14

Why were larger ranches beginning to take over smaller ranches?

Answer 14

1. Larger ranches found it easier to foot the bill of maintaining the ranch
2. Larger ranchers also formed corporations to work together and occasionally hired gunmen to help them control the area, which smaller ranchers could not afford to do so