Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads (1860-1910) Section 3: The Cattle Boom.

Chapter 14: The Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads Western Crossroads

(1860-1910) (1860-1910)

Section 3: The Cattle BoomSection 3: The Cattle Boom

Ranching in the West Ranching in the West

The earliest ranchers in the American The earliest ranchers in the American West were Spaniards who imported West were Spaniards who imported cattle from Spain in the 1500s. cattle from Spain in the 1500s.

Ranching in the WestRanching in the West

By the 1850s, Texans By the 1850s, Texans had interbred English had interbred English cattle with Spanish cattle with Spanish cattle to produce a cattle to produce a new breed – the new breed – the Texas longhorn. Texas longhorn. – These cattle could These cattle could

travel long distances travel long distances on little water, and on little water, and were immune to were immune to Texas fever (a cattle Texas fever (a cattle disease). disease).


The growth of eastern cities led to an The growth of eastern cities led to an increase in the demand for beef. increase in the demand for beef.

Cattle ranching in Texas grew Cattle ranching in Texas grew rapidly, especially after overhunting rapidly, especially after overhunting caused the buffalo to die out. caused the buffalo to die out.


The Spanish also introduced sheep The Spanish also introduced sheep ranching. ranching.

American Indians raised sheep in American Indians raised sheep in New Mexico and Arizona. New Mexico and Arizona.

During the California gold rush, During the California gold rush, sheep were herded into California to sheep were herded into California to feed the miners. feed the miners.


Cowboys hated sheep, believing that Cowboys hated sheep, believing that they ate the roots of the grass and they ate the roots of the grass and ruined it for cattle. ruined it for cattle.

Clashes between shepherds and Clashes between shepherds and cowboys often became violent.cowboys often became violent.

Angry cowboys even droveAngry cowboys even drove

herds of sheep off of cliffs.herds of sheep off of cliffs.

Question 1Question 1

What conflicts occurred between What conflicts occurred between cattle and sheep ranchers?cattle and sheep ranchers?

The Cattle IndustryThe Cattle Industry

The workers who took care of a The workers who took care of a rancher’s cattle were known as rancher’s cattle were known as cowboys.cowboys.

The life of a cowboy was difficult.The life of a cowboy was difficult.– They worked hard in all kinds of weather They worked hard in all kinds of weather

and were paid little.and were paid little.

The CowboysThe Cowboys

Many cowboys were Confederate Many cowboys were Confederate veterans of the Civil War.veterans of the Civil War.

African American, Mexican, and African American, Mexican, and Mexican American cowboys made up Mexican American cowboys made up about one-third of the 35,000 cowboys about one-third of the 35,000 cowboys in the West. in the West. – African American cowboys escaped most of African American cowboys escaped most of

the discrimination in the postwar era.the discrimination in the postwar era.– Mexican ranch hands were known as Mexican ranch hands were known as

vaqueros. They also often encountered vaqueros. They also often encountered discrimination. discrimination.

Life on the TrailLife on the Trail

Moving cattle from Texas to the rail Moving cattle from Texas to the rail lines in Missouri and Kansas posed a lines in Missouri and Kansas posed a major problem for cattle ranchers.major problem for cattle ranchers.


To reach the rail lines, cowboys To reach the rail lines, cowboys herded as many as 3,000 cattle on herded as many as 3,000 cattle on long drives.long drives.– They covered hundreds of miles and They covered hundreds of miles and

lasted several months.lasted several months.– Over the years, cowboys herded about 4 Over the years, cowboys herded about 4

million cattle from Texas to Kansas.million cattle from Texas to Kansas.


Managing the herd on a drive was a Managing the herd on a drive was a tough job.tough job.– River crossings were dangerous.River crossings were dangerous.

The worst danger was a stampede. The worst danger was a stampede. Any unexpected sound could panic Any unexpected sound could panic the cattle.the cattle.

Cattle TownsCattle Towns

Every long drive ended at a railhead Every long drive ended at a railhead – a town located along a railroad – – a town located along a railroad – where brokers bought cattle to ship where brokers bought cattle to ship east on railroad cars. These towns east on railroad cars. These towns became known as cattle towns.became known as cattle towns.


Early cattle towns were quite small.Early cattle towns were quite small. Those that attracted enough Those that attracted enough

business grew larger.business grew larger. Cowboys were paid at the end of the Cowboys were paid at the end of the

drive, and they often visited drive, and they often visited gambling halls and saloons to spend gambling halls and saloons to spend their money.their money.


Some cattle towns attracted Some cattle towns attracted businesspeople, doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, doctors, lawyers, and their families. and their families.

The towns then built schools and The towns then built schools and established police forces. established police forces.


How did cattle drives affect the How did cattle drives affect the development of towns and cities in development of towns and cities in the West?the West?

RanchingRanching

As the U.S. government converted As the U.S. government converted more American Indian territory into more American Indian territory into public land, cattle ranching spread public land, cattle ranching spread west.west.

The government allowed cattle The government allowed cattle ranching to use public land as open ranching to use public land as open range, or free grazing land. range, or free grazing land. – This access to free land helped to make This access to free land helped to make

ranching profitable. ranching profitable.

Ranch ProfitsRanch Profits

It was mainly large investment It was mainly large investment companies that took advantage of companies that took advantage of the free land.the free land.

Financed by eastern and European Financed by eastern and European investors, these companies created investors, these companies created huge ranches.huge ranches.

Ranch ProfitsRanch Profits

Many bought ranch rights – or water Many bought ranch rights – or water rights to ponds and rivers. Ranchers rights to ponds and rivers. Ranchers could then prevent other ranchers could then prevent other ranchers and farmers from coming onto their and farmers from coming onto their property and using the scarce water.property and using the scarce water.

Ranch LifeRanch Life

Ranches were often far apart, and Ranches were often far apart, and the life could be lonely.the life could be lonely.

During the spring and fall, ranch life During the spring and fall, ranch life centered on the roundup. centered on the roundup.

The cattle were driven from the open The cattle were driven from the open range to a central location where range to a central location where they were separated by each they were separated by each rancher’s brand. They were then rancher’s brand. They were then taken on the drives to the railheads.taken on the drives to the railheads.


What was life on a ranch like?What was life on a ranch like?

The End of the Cattle BoomThe End of the Cattle Boom

The cattle boom The cattle boom lasted about 20 lasted about 20 years.years.

Several factors led Several factors led to its end.to its end.


1) Ranchers eager for profits crowded 1) Ranchers eager for profits crowded the open range with too many cattle. the open range with too many cattle. – Prices crashed in 1885 as supply far Prices crashed in 1885 as supply far

exceeded demand.exceeded demand.


2) Ranchers faced increased 2) Ranchers faced increased competition for use of the open competition for use of the open range.range.– In 1874 Joseph Glidden In 1874 Joseph Glidden

patented barbed wire for patented barbed wire for

fencing.fencing.– Farmers used it to control Farmers used it to control

access to land and water.access to land and water.


Some farmers and small ranchers Some farmers and small ranchers responded by cutting the fences and responded by cutting the fences and moving onto the land or stealing moving onto the land or stealing cattle, leading to range wars. cattle, leading to range wars.

The end of the open range meant The end of the open range meant that ranchers had to buy their own that ranchers had to buy their own land, and some large ranching land, and some large ranching corporations went broke. corporations went broke.


3) Bad weather was the final blow to 3) Bad weather was the final blow to the open range. the open range. – On the southern Plains in 1885-1886 On the southern Plains in 1885-1886

there was a severe winter followed by a there was a severe winter followed by a drought.drought.

– There were severe blizzards on the There were severe blizzards on the northern Plains the following year.northern Plains the following year.

– Some ranchers lost up to 90% of their Some ranchers lost up to 90% of their herds to starvation and the freezing herds to starvation and the freezing temperatures. temperatures.


Ranchers learned from their Ranchers learned from their experiences. experiences. – They raised hay to feed their cattle in They raised hay to feed their cattle in

the winter.the winter.


How did barbed wire hasten the end How did barbed wire hasten the end of the cattle boom?of the cattle boom?

Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads (1860-1910) Section 3: The Cattle Boom.

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Transcript of Chapter 14: The Western Crossroads (1860-1910) Section 3: The Cattle Boom.