American West

American West American Civil War (1861) Plains Indians Pioneers Mountain Men 49ers Mormons

American West End of the Civil War Cattlemen and Cowboys Railroad Homesteaders American Civil War (Ends 1865)

Overview of Later Settlers Between 1861 and 1865 the USA fought a bitter Civil War. While this was underway, little or no progress could be made in the ‘Manifest Destiny’ of creating a new nation. Once the Civil War ended, there were moves to unite the new states in the West (esp. California) with the old Eastern states. The key way of achieving this was through the railroad, which was begun in 1865 and completed in The railroad allowed cattlemen to drive cattle north and sell it to states in the East and West. It also attracted homesteaders, who could bring the heavy items (e.g. wind pumps, barbed wire, ploughs) that they needed to farm the plains. All of this had a massive impact on the Indians’ way of life.

Later Settlers ( ) The Cattle Industry

Task: Make a quick copy of this chart and fill it in as you watch the presentation Cattlemen & Cowboys : The Origins of Cattle Ranching : The Long Drives & the first Open Range Ranch : The ‘Open Range’ : The End of the Open Range

1820 – 1865 The Origins of Cattle Ranching, in Texas…

Ranching first started in Texas, with ranches mostly manned by Mexican cowboys called vaqueros…

In 1836 Texan ranchers drove many Mexicans out, and claimed the cattle left behind…

The Civil War started in 1861, and Texans went off to fight. The cattle roamed free as huge herds grew up…

On returning home, the Texans started rounding them up and driving them to sell in places such as New Orleans and California…

1865 – 1870 The long drives and the first open range ranch…

Great demand for beef in the north of the USA, the Texans drove their cattle north on a long drive to Sedalia in Missouri, where they were loaded onto trains for Chicago…

Two Texas ranchers, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, pioneered a second trail, to Denver in Colorado, where they sold their cattle to gold miners…

In 1868, a rancher named John Iliff (the 'cattle-king of the northern plains') won the contract to supply beef to the Sioux, who had been forced onto a reservation in the Black Hills…

A safer drive (the Chisholm Trail) was established to Abilene…

This was set up by Joseph McCoy as a 'cow-town', with railroad stockyards (and saloons where the cowboys could spend their wages)…

Abilene Stock Yards

John Iliff was the first rancher to farm on the plains – he set up an 'open range' ranch - in Wyoming in 1867…

1870 – 1885 The Open Range…

There were huge areas of 'open range' - unfenced land which was free for anyone to use…

Charles Goodnight invented the crazy quilt…

By buying small patches of land here and there over an area, he could effectively control all of it…

Refrigeration cars on trains opened a world-wide market for beef...

The land was gradually bought up…

By 1885, just 35 cattle-barons owned 8 million hectares of range, and around 1.5 million cattle…

1885 – 1890 The end of the Open Range…

Ranchers had over-grazed the plains. Overstocking had also led to a fall in prices…

In spring 1886 there was a drought, followed by a scorching hot summer…

This was followed by a winter storm in January 1887, in which the temperature dropped to -43°C…

Half the cattle on the plains died in a single year…

More and more homesteaders were coming onto the plains…

They were farmers, and began to fence off their farms with barbed wire (patented in 1874)…

By 1895 the once-mighty cattle industry was in terminal decline.

The Cattle Industry Task: Make a quick copy of this chart and fill it in as you watch the presentation Cattlemen & Cowboys : The Origins of Cattle Ranching : The Long Drives & the first Open Range Ranch : The ‘Open Range’ : The End of the Open Range Vaqueros were driven out Men fought in Civil War from 1861 Civil War ended in Cattle had multiplied First long drive to Sedalia Goodnight- Loving Trail to gold miners John Iliff supplied the Sioux Abilene – first cow town (Joseph McCoy) John Iliff – first ranch on the plains Huge areas of Open Range Ranches built using Iliff’s Crazy Quilt system Refrigerated Railcars opened overseas markets Land bought up by cattle barons Over-grazingOver-stocking Drought in Spring 1886 Hot summer 1886 Freezing winter in January 1887 Barbed wire introduced

Make a copy of the following information in the form of a spider diagram, mindmap, notes, bullet points, etc

Vaqueros driven outCattle multiplied after Civil War Long drives – Sedalia Trial, Goodnight-Loving Trail, Chisholm Trail John Iliff first to ranch on the Plains Cow towns – Abilene (Joseph McCoy), Dodge City Land consolidated by cattle barons, using the Crazy Quilt system Open range – drought, hot summer, freezing winter Greed – over-stocking, over-grazing The Cattle Industry in 180 seconds Barbed wire patented 1874

Later Settlers ( ) Cowboys

Task: Make a copy of the following questions, leaving a space below to answer. As the PowerPoint plays, fill in any information. 1. In what ways was the reality of the life of a cowboy different to the image? 2. What was the job of the cowboy during the period of the long drives (c )? 3. In what ways were the lives of cowboys and Native Americans similar? 4. What hardships did the cowboy have to put up with? 5. How did the role of a cowboy change after the end of the ‘Open Range’ (c1885)?

The cowboys were an essential ingredient in the development of the cattle trade…

Without their skills, the long drives would not have been possible…

When cattle ranching declined in importance, many cowboys ended up working as extras on films…

Hollywood, ‘dime novels’ and, later, TV programmes like 'Bonanza', glamorised the cowboys as heroes…

The Hollywood image of cowboys was not realistic…

Many real cowboys were black ex-slaves, whereas Hollywood heroes were always white…

After the hardships of the long drive, it seems unlikely that many cowboys were especially good-looking…

They were highly skilled…

They could ride, shoot, lasso, wrangle, round up, herd, cross rivers, turn stampedes, scout, keep watch and drive off rustlers…

Between 1840 and 1870, during the period of the long drives, the life of a cowboy followed the seasons…

In winter they hung round the ranch, or lived in 'line camps', taking daily rides to stop cattle 'drifting' onto the open plain…

In spring, they went 'bog-riding' to haul out 'mired' cows, and then went on the 'round-up’…

They would brand the new calves at this time…

In summer, they went on the long trail drives to market…

Cowboys' lives were similar in many ways to the lives of Native Americans…

They were dependent on the natural products of the Great Plains...

They moved around (though the cowboys were herding cattle, whereas the Native Americans were following the buffalo)…

They cared for the cattle in a way similar to the way Native American dog-soldiers cared for the buffalo…

Their food and clothing was derived from cattle (beef and leather)…

The round-up was a collective, community event similar in many ways to a buffalo hunt…

Cowboys developed a system of long-range signals, such as waving a hat, in much the same way as the Native Americans used smoke signals…

They also endured hardships, such as freezing cold in the line camps or rain, hail and burning sun on the long drive…

There was the danger of being trampled (especially in a stampede), and of drowning (crossing rivers)…

There were attacks from Native American warriors on the long drive, and from cattle rustlers…

And the inconvenience of having to stay awake all night on guard duty on the long drive, or having to ride 'drag' on the long drive (dust from the herd)…

The job of the cowboy started to change from about 1885, with the end of the Open Range…

The job of the cowboy became less skilled and more boring…

The spring and autumn round-ups were no longer needed…

The main job became ‘line riding’, to check that the barbed wire fences were not broken…

The great era of the cowboy was over, and the cattle industry went into decline.

Make a copy of the following information in the form of a spider diagram, mindmap, notes, bullet points, etc

Later Settlers: Cowboys 1. In what ways was the reality of the life of a cowboy different to the image? Not as glamorous; some black; not heroic or especially good looking 2. What was the job of the cowboy during the period of the long drives (c )? Winter: ‘line camps’ to stop cattle ‘drifting; Spring: roundup & branding; Summer/Autumn: long trial drives to take cattle to market 3. In what ways were the lives of cowboys and Native Americans similar? Moved around; relied to natural products of the Plains; cared for cattle/buffalo; food & clothing from cattle/buffalo; collective events (roundup/buffalo hunt); long- range signals (hand/smoke) 4. What hardships did the cowboy have to put up with? Extreme weather; cattle stampedes; risk of drowning; attacks from Native Americans and cattle rustlers; staying awake on ‘guard duty’ at night; drag riding 5. How did the role of a cowboy change after the end of the ‘Open Range’ (c1885)? No more long drives; no more roundups; became less skilled and boring; ‘line riding’ to check barbed wire fences; cattle industry declined after around 1890

Not as heroic or good looking as the cowboy myth suggests Many cowboys were black ex-slaves c was the period of the long drives c was the period of farming on the plains Similar life in many ways to Plains Indians c saw the end of the Open Range Summer round-up for long drives to market Round-up in spring for branding Lived on ranch or in ‘line camps’ in winter Cowboys in 180 seconds Endured many hardships – not an easy life

Later Settlers ( ) Homesteaders

The Homesteaders Task: Make a rough copy of the following table and fill it in as you watch the PowerPoint Presentation. Why did they go West? Problems Solutions

From the 1860s thousands of people moved onto the Plains, hoping to set up small farms, or homesteads…

These people were known as the homesteaders, or ‘sodbusters’…

They included black ex-slaves, who were freed after the end of the Civil War in 1865…

European immigrants seeking political or religious freedom, or simply to escape poverty in their own country…

Younger sons from the East went because it was a chance to own their own land and escape over- crowding…

They were followed by other Americans - such as tradesmen and government officials - who hoped to make their living from the farmers who had moved onto the Plains…

There were many pull factors that encouraged them to go West…

The 1862 Homestead Act allowed homesteaders to claim 160 acres of land free if they lived and worked on it for five years…

This was later enhanced by the Timber & Culture Act and the Desert Land Act…

To encourage the railroad companies, the government gave them a two-mile stretch of land either side of the railroad…

They launched a massive sales campaign, offering a 'settlement package', which included…

…a safe, cheap and speedy journey west…

…temporary accommodation in 'hotels' until the families had built their own home…

… and other attractions such as schools, churches and no taxes for five years…

The idea grew up that it was America's manifest destiny to expand on the Great Plains…

Once the population of an area reached 60,000, it could apply to become a state of the USA…

Local governments ran publicity campaigns claiming farmers could grow pumpkins as big as barns and maize as tall as telegraph poles…

The homesteaders had to find solutions to many problems…

The burden of many of these fell on the women, whose lives were lonely and unpleasant…

Problem 1: There was little wood to build log cabins or fences, or use as fuel…

Solution: Settlers built 'sod houses', and used barbed wire to fence off land. ‘Cow chips’ (dung) were burned as fuel…

Gathering cow chips for fuel

Problem 2: Sod houses leaked, and fleas and bedbugs lived in the walls. It was impossible to disinfect the floor…

Solution: Regular whitewashing of the walls killed bedbugs. A layer of clay stopped leaks…

Problem 3: There were no shops…

Solution: Travelling salesmen, such as shoe-makers, sometimes called, but usually families just had to make do. Women made their own candles and soap…

Problem 4: There was little or no water for drinking or for the crops…

Solution: Wind pumps were brought via the railways, and a technique called dry farming, where soil was turned over after any rain…

Problem 5: The crops that farmers planted in the East did not grow in the poor conditions of the Plains…

Solution: Russian immigrants planted the Turkey Red wheat, a hardy crop which grew in extreme conditions…

Problem 6: The ground was so hard that it broke the old ploughs that farmers had brought from the East…

Solution: A new plough, nick-named the ‘Sodbuster’, was introduced…

Problem 7: There was a lack of law and order, and clashes with cowboys and cattlemen, who wanted to drive cattle over land…

Solution: Law courts and sheriffs slowly established order, and barbed wire fences stopped the cattlemen…

Problem 8: The homesteaders were experienced isolation. There were no doctors, midwives or social life…

Solution: People had to make the most of any trip to the nearest town…

The Homesteaders Why did they go West? Problems Solutions Black ex-slaves, after the Civil War European immigrants, fleeing poverty, or religious or political persecution Government incentive: Homestead, Timber & Culture, Desert Land Acts Railroads: easy travel; settlement packages; brought machinery etc. Manifest Destiny Propaganda: stories of large crops etc spread by areas hoping to become states. Lack of wood Leaking & insects in sod houses No shops Lack of water Usual crops did not grow Hard ground broke ploughs Lack of law & order Isolation Barbed wire, sod houses, ‘cow chips’ White-washing and clay Travelling salesmen and ‘making do’ Wind pumps and ‘dry farming’ Turkey Red wheat The ‘Sodbuster’ Law courts & sheriffs introduced; barbed wire Visits to local towns

Make a copy of the following information in the form of a spider diagram, mindmap, notes, bullet points, etc

Needed railroad to transport wind pump, barbed wire etc. Homesteaders in 180 seconds Railroad also allowed them to transport crops etc. to market Government incentives: Homesteader, Timber & Culture and Desert Land Acts Were pulled by exaggerated stories of the West Law and order was gradually introduced Helped to fence land by barbed wire Used technology such as wind pumps, railroad and the ‘Sodbuster’ plough Introduced new crops, such as the ‘Turkey Red’

Later Settlers - An Overview

Make a copy of the following revision reminder sheet

Later Settlers in the West Group One: Cattlemen : The origins of ranching : The long drives & the first open range ranch on the Plains : The open range : The end of the open range Group Two: Cowboys Vital to the cattle industry Not as heroic or glamorous as image Very difficult life – many hardships Job became less skilled and more boring as cattle Industry declines Group Three: Homesteaders Arrived on the Plains from the mid to late 1860s Railroad essential Many pull factors Faced many problems – a very difficult life Came up with many solutions Barbed wire vital

Later Settlers - An Overview Task 1: Complete the revision table. Group Cattlemen and cowboys Reasons for going West How successful were they? Home- steaders

Later Settlers - An Overview Task 2: Complete the following mind map. The cattle industry Later Settlers ( ) Cowboys The role of the railroad Homesteaders