Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Ranching Frontier Chapter 7: The West (1860 – 1920)
Section 3 Obj: Explain the cattle industry and how it originated in the Great Plains Ranching Frontier
2
Cattle Industry After the Civil War great profits were available in the meat industry The cattle industry was formed north close to the railroad Settlers began to build ranches throughout the Great Plains However, this did not fill the demand for cattle
3
Long Drive In the city there was a demand for cattle $40 a head
In Texas there was no demand for cattle $10 a head The problem was that Texas lacked railroads to get the cattle to the city Created the “Long Drive” Moving cattle from Texas across the Great Plains to Kansas Abilene, Dodge City
4
Cowboy Long Drive created the image of the cowboy
Cowboys were influenced by ranchers from Mexico Many cowboys were young men from the southern states (ex-soldiers) The job was dangerous, exciting and paid well
5
Cattle Towns Joseph McCoy a meat dealer, set up a loading station in Abilene, KS Here cattle were brought to be loaded up onto the railroad and shipped to the cities McCoy built pens and chutes Cowboys followed the Chisholm Trail right to Abilene Abilene instantly grew Built salons, hotels, restaurants and other businesses They built anything to facilitate the cowboys
6
Cattle Towns and Cowboys
However, after about 5 years Abilene and other cow towns no longer welcomed the cowboys Cowboys had the reputation of being wild and not able to follow the law After a long trail the cowboys would get paid and want to spend their money Gambling, drinking and fighting were all common problems seen in cow towns This wild west led to the creation of famous lawmen Wild Bill Hitchcock and Wyatt Earp
7
Challenges to the Long Drive
Terrible Winters Scorching Summers Cattle thieves Invention of barbed wire Cowboys relied on open-range grazing Cowboys used the Great Plains to graze and feed the cattle on the long drive Barbed wire eventually ended open-range and the long drive Ranchers were able to produce healthier cattle by fencing them in
Similar presentations
![[ 6.2 ] Cattle Kingdoms and Open Ranges. Learning Objectives Identify how the cattle industry developed from Spanish beginnings. Compare the myths and.](/15/4505561/big_thumb.jpg "[ 6.2 ] Cattle Kingdoms and Open Ranges. Learning Objectives Identify how the cattle industry developed from Spanish beginnings. Compare the myths and.>")
