Cowboys Original cowboys came from Mexico (Aztec prisoners) They eventually traveled into New Mexico teaching the Pueblo Indians how to ride and rope Today there are many influences from “cowboy” culture.

COWBOYS Let’s see if you can recognize the modern names for these “cowboy” influences

COWBOYS What do you know?

Cowboy True or False? The career of a cowboy lasted from about 25 years of age to about 40 years of age. True 40 was old for a cowboy because of the large amount of riding and work required.

The most frequent cause of death for a cowboy was from Native American’s or cattle rustlers. False Pneumonia or riding accidents caused most cowboy deaths

Cowboys had to be expert marksmen to protect the herd from cattle rustlers and Native American raiders. False A cowboy probably did not carry a pistol. If any gun was carried it would be a shotgun. Odds are very good most cowboys never shot anyone.

Famous Cowboys… …who were probably never cowboys. Buffalo Bill - Had a “Wild West Show” Martha Jane Cannary “Calamity Jane” Will Bill Hickock https://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/%22Wild_Bill%2 2_Hickok

Calamity Jane

Cowboys before the Civil War Were ranchers in the southern Great Plains (Texas), stayed near their farms and raised longhorn cattle. Some meat and other products were sold locally. That’s it.

During the war Many men left to fight Union control of the Mississippi cut off trade from Texas to rest of U.S. Cattle population grew

http://www.socialstudiescms.com/westward- expansion The American Cowboy

Cowboys After the Civil War 1. Demand for beef increased in Northern cities and Texas had a lot of cows 2. railroads reached the Great Plains The only problem is that there was really no way to get the beef to the northern markets

Railroads Open the West The federal government gave railroad companies a lot of land for laying track 1867 two companies begin a race to the middle

Union Pacific Railroad moved WEST from Omaha, Nebraska Central Pacific Railroad moved  East  from Sacramento, California Union Pacific  Railroad moved WEST from Omaha, Nebraska

May 19, 1869  they met at Promontory Point, Utah

but the longhorn were not near a railroad… Cattle Rancher Joseph McCoy from Springfield, Illinois built holding pens around Abilene, Kansas - and the rail lines. He also helped survey a route from Texas to Abilene to get the cows to the railroad.

Cattle Drive cattle had to be “driven” to the railroads The drives happened about once a year they were Long, dangerous trips: heat Native Americans rivers storms

Cattle Drive Trails Key trails helps western towns grow Chisolm Trial-Texas to Abilene, Kansas Baxter Trail- Texas to Kansas City, MO Goodnight-Loving Trial- Texas to Cheyenne, Wyo.

Cattle drive - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaHQ2vr t0ak

Chisolm Trail

The End of the Open West Overgrazing Drought and Cold Caused farmers to focus on smaller herds The invention of Barbed wire helped them fence the herds The open west was no more (around 1887-88)

with the rail lines open thousands moved to the Great Plains

Great Plains Settlers Farmers-Lived on plots of land called homesteads      a. Homestead Act (1862)- federal gov’t plan to give 160 acres of free land to any settler who would move out west and improve the land for 5 years.

Great Plain Settlers b.  Exodusters- nickname for African Americans who moved out west to escape the problems of South and receive free land c. Lived in Sod Houses; Nicknamed a “Soddy” or “Soddies” d. Faced h ardships: droughts, Native Americans attacks, loneliness

lived in dugouts and soddies

Women’s Life P. 399

Technology on the Great Plains Technology needed to make farming more productive on the Plains     1. Steel Plow-to break up the thick soil (sod)     2. Steel Windmill- needed to pump underground water     3. Mechanical Reaper- to harvest crops     4. Barbed Wire- to prevent animals from destroying crops     5. Transcontinental Railroad/Refrigerated Cars- to transport crops to market for sell

John Green Start at 8:00