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The Cattle Kingdom. Cattle ranching made big money for 20 years (1867-1886) The Texas longhorn was a very tough breed and had horns up to five feet across. . Ranchers hired cowhands to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas Drives followed four Main Trails 1) Chisholm
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Cattle ranching made big money for 20 years (1867-1886) • The Texas longhorn was a very tough breed and had horns up to five feet across.
Ranchers hired cowhands to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas • Drives followed four Main Trails • 1) Chisholm • 2) Western • 3)Goodnight-Loving • 4) Sedalia Baxter Springs
Cowboys • Vaqueros – the 1stcowboys came from Mexico • Many Affrican Americans found work as cowboys
Cattle driving was very difficult - you had to keep the cows or “the money” together & moving in the right direction • Obstacles were: nature, thieves, & Native Americans
In 1885, the U.S. economy was in a depression causing cattle prices to drop. • In 1885 and 1886 severe winters caused many cattle to die. • Overgrazing caused a shortage of grass feed for the huge cattle herds.
Most ranchers were ruined financially & lost at 30%, or more, of their herds. • Cattle ranching became much more costly. • These disasters and greater competition for land brought an end to the Cattle Kingdom.