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Chapter 14 Western Crossroads. 14.3 The Cattle Boom. I. Ranching in the West. Earliest ranchers were Spaniards 1. New breed- Texas longhorn Cattle Ranching As cities grew so does the need for beef As grew as buffalo died out Sheep Ranching Clashes between shepherds and cowboys.
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Chapter 14 Western Crossroads 14.3 The Cattle Boom
I. Ranching in the West • Earliest ranchers were Spaniards 1. New breed- Texas longhorn • Cattle Ranching • As cities grew so does the need for beef • As grew as buffalo died out • Sheep Ranching • Clashes between shepherds and cowboys
II. The Cattle Industry • Cowboys • Worked hard for little money • Many were veterans of the Civil War • African Americans- escaped most discrimination • Life on the trail • Herding cattle to the railroads • 3,000 cattle- several hundred miles • Around 10 cowboys • Many dangers
III. Cattle Towns • Town located along a railroad, where brokers bought cattle to ship east 1. Abilene, Dodge City, Wichita- Kansas • Early- general store, hotel, railroad depot, and stockyard • Prosperous cattle towns expanded. • Attracted doctor, lawyers, business people, and families
IV. Ranching • Open range- public land- free grazing land • Ranch Profits • Large corporate ranches- a. XIT Ranch-3.5 million acre, Prairie Cattle Company- 5.5 million acres • Ranch Life • women- housework, fence-mending, herding, and other chores • Spring and fall- roundup
V. The End of the Cattle Boom • Lasted about 20 yrs • Why did it end • Price crash • Increased competition- barbed wire • End of the open range • Bad weather in 1885-1886
Assignment • Imagine you are a cowboy or someone living in a cattle town. Compose a diary entry describing daily life.