Lesson PlanThe Cattle Drive and Westward ExpansionPurposeStudents will gain a greater understanding of the historical context and purpose of the cattle drives that took place in the mid 1880s. Students will be able to explain the cause and effect relationships of life on the frontier including, population growth, and later the invention and use of barbed wire, refrigeration, and railroads. Grades 9-12
Estimated Time90 minutes Materials NeededEngage:
Activity 1: The Cattle Drive
Activity 2: Cause and Effect, What Changed Ranching on the Frontier?
Vocabularycattle drive: the process of moving cattle from one location to another, usually to a new grazing location, or in a historical context to market Did You Know?
Background Agricultural Connections
Historical Context of the Cattle Drive Cattle roundup near Great Falls Montana, circa 1890. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy The first cattle drives headed West from Texas to San Francisco to the area where gold miners could be found (1849). Cattle ranchers could sell their cattle for 5-20 times the amount they could in Texas. The cattle market in California dropped along with gold mining. When the Civil War erupted (1861), many cattle herds were left behind on the open range. Cattle ranching halted for a time; however, the longhorn population grew as they continued to graze and reproduce on the prairie. After the war (1865), large cattle herds and consumer demand in cities resulted in cattle drives to locations where the railroad had a railhead. These towns were called "cow towns." When the animals arrived they would be sold and sorted for distribution to cities for slaughter and market. Cattle Drive Map. Source: National Agriculture in the Classroom Cattle drives continued for about 20 years (through the late 1880s) until the railroads grew and ranchers had closer access to railheads. Rail transport not only changed the speed of delivery, but as tracks were laid and refrigerated rail cars were developed, trains could go to where the cattle were located. Thereby reducing rangeland degradation on the way to market and keep weight on the animals because they had not been moved 500-1000 miles north. Butcher shop, circa 1890. Nebraska State Historical Society. Source: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/labor_day_1890.htm Life on the Trail: A 12-person crew could manage most cattle drives. While most of the crews were composed of men, there were some women who drove cattle to the railhead. As discussed in the book "Texas Women on the Cattle Trails" by Sara R. Massey, like men "some [women] took to the trails by choice; others, out of necessity. Some went along to look at the stars; others, to work the cattle. Some made money and built ranching empires, but others went broke and lived hard, even desperate lives." Men, and some women, then had their own responsibilities and typically held positions that included the following:
There were numerous trails used. Noted trails include the Chisolm Trail, which led from Texas to Kansas. It was named for the Indian trader Jesse Chisholm. The original trail expanded as time passed due to cattle herds making new trails. The Chisholm Trail became obsolete in the mid-1870s after an interstate railroad came to Texas. The Goodnight-Loving Trail crossed West Texas. It was established by Charles Goodnight and later Oliver Loving. The route was longer, but generally safer. There were many dangers on the trail. Indian attacks were a threat in some areas along a cattle drive. Flooded rivers caused delays and drought often made it difficult to keep the cattle watered. Stampedes were a real danger. The herd could be spooked by a variety of sights, smells, and noises, but lightning was the most common. To stop a stampede the cowboys would run on horseback to the head of the herd and turn them to the right, directing the stampede into a circle. In time the cowboys made the circle smaller and smaller allowing the cattle time to calm down and stop running. Life on the trail was long and lonely. Most drives lasted 3-5 months depending on the distance they needed to travel and delays they experienced along the way. A typical drive could cover 15-25 miles per day. Although it was important to arrive at their destination on time, the cattle needed time to rest and graze. Otherwise they would be very thin when they arrived at the markets, which decreased their value. The
End of Cattle Drives: Engage
Explore and ExplainActivity 1: The Cattle Drive
Activity 2: Cause and Effect, What Changed Ranching on the Frontier?
Elaborate
EvaluateAfter conducting these activities, review and summarize the following key concepts:
OrganizationNational Agriculture in the Classroom
Education Content StandardsSocial Studies - History (HISTORY)History Era 6 Standard 1C (Grades 9-12): Agriculture, mining, and ranching transformed.
History Era 4 Standard 2E (Grades 9-12): The settlement of the West.
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