2.  Cattle ranching made big money for 20 years (1867-1886)  The Texas longhorn is a very tough breed and has horns up to five feet across.

3.  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

4. Vaqueros – the 1 st cowboys came from Mexico Many Affrican Americans found work as cowboys

5.  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

6.  Cattle were put on trains & sent east

7.  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.

8.  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.