NCSCOS Goal 4 Page 28

Open Range -Great Plains area Texas to Kansas -No boundaries to man or cattle Open area free for cattle and men to roam -low population The Open Range was mysterious to most Americans, as many had never settled West and had only heard stories about outlaws and Native Americans. Many moved to the Open Range following the Civil War to be ranchers and cowboys.

Cattle Kingdom Greater urban populations demanded more food Increased demand for beef Cattle drives to meet railroads Connect open range with cities back East Chisholm Trail (major cattle drive trail) Abilene (major cow town) Legend of the cowboy Mexican Influences Learned to be cowboys from Mexicans

Cowboys worked hours a day on a ranch and even more on the Trail, alert at all times for any dangers to the herd. A cowboy’s season might begin with the spring roundup (branding), followed by the long drive. The cowboy life was dangerous and lonely, which is why many celebrated in the cow towns (like Abilene) upon arrival.

“We went back to look for him, and we found him…horse and man mashed into the ground as flat as a pancake….We tried to think that lightning hit him, and that was what we wrote his folks…but we couldn’t believe it ourselves. I’m afraid it wasn’t the lightning. I’m afraid.. They both went down before the stampede.” ~Teddy Abbott, cowboy

The Old Chisholm Trail Come along boys and listen to my tale, I'll tell you of my troubles on the old Chisholm trail. Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea, Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea. Oh, a ten-dollar hoss and a forty-dollar saddle, And I'm goin' to punchin' Texas cattle. I wake in the mornin' afore daylight, And afore I sleep the moon shines bright. It's cloudy in the west, a-lookin' like rain, And my durned old slicker's in the wagon again. No chaps, no slicker, and it's pourin' down rain, And I swear, by gosh, I'll never night-herd again. Feet in the stirrups and seat in the saddle, I hung and rattled with them long-horn cattle. The wind commenced to blow, and the rain began to fall, Hit looked, by grab, like we was goin' to lose 'em all. I don't give a darn if they never do stop; I'll ride as long as an eight-day clock. We rounded 'em up and put 'em on the cars, And that was the last of the old Two Bars. It's bacon and beans most every day, I'd as soon be a-eatin' prairie hay. I went to the boss to draw my roll, He had it figgered out I was nine dollars in the hole. Goin' back to town to draw my money, Goin' back home to see my honey. With my knees in the saddle and my seat in the sky, I'll quit punchin' cows in the sweet by and by.

Home On The Range Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day How often at night where the heavens are bright With the light of the glittering stars Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed If their glory exceeds that of ours Then give me a land where the bright diamond sand Flows leisurely down to the stream Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along Like a maid in a heavenly dream Oh I would not exchange my old home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where the seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day

Cattle’s Decline Too many cattle Over-grazing the land Bad weather leaves no food for cattle Disease Killed cattle Drought Dry summers and harsh winters wiped out herds Barbed wire fences blocked open range

Mining Towns Gold Rushes People move West to get rich quickly California, 1849 Sutter’s Mill Black Hills South Dakota Comstock Lode Nevada: discovered $300 million in silver and gold in 20 years Alaska Ghost Towns “Boomtowns” built quickly to accommodate miners, and they were abandoned just as quickly

Mining Life -large mix of people All races, mostly men but a few women -many opportunities for everyone -saloons, gambling Violent towns with no police -hard luck Many made very little or no money and must stay in the West because they cannot

“Wild West” Legend of adventure Wild Bill Hickok Calamity Jane Wyatt Earp Jesse James Billy the Kid Dime novels that told western tales Romanticized the West Only lasted 30 years Wild Bill HickokCalamity Jane Wyatt Earp Jesse James Billy the Kid