1. The Cattle Kingdoms of the West 1865-1887

2. Factors that lead to the Cattle boom
Supply
During the Civil War the Ranchers of Texas were cut off from their markets in the North and East.
Herds in Texas grew dramatically by 1866 there were an estimated 5,000,000 cattle in Texas.
Demand
The post war East was in need of Beef
The East began an Industrial boom in the 1870’s
Military need for beef for soldiers manning the western forts
Native Americans on reservations needed Beef
Miners in Colorado and Wyoming

3. The Problem: Transportation
In 1867 the nearest railhead was in Kansas City, Missouri
The increased building of railroads solved this problem. It was now possible to drive the cattle to a rail depot.
The railroad arrived at Sedalia, Mo in 1865, and by 1870 it extended into Kansas. It was here that the cow towns such as Abilene and Dodge City were built at railheads for the transport of cattle to the East. (Chicago)
The BOOM WAS ON!

5. The Cattle Trails New Trails developed as railroads moved west.
Sedalia Trail
Chisholm Trail
Western Trail
Goodnight-Loving Trail
New Trails developed as railroads moved west.
In 1867, 35,000 cattle arrived at Abilene. By ,000 steers a year were moving up the Chisholm Trail.

6. Abilene, Kansas (late 1800’s)

7. Wichita, Kansas (1874)

8. Dodge City, Kansas, 1874

9. The Long Drive
Most herds took up to 3 months to reach the rail depot. Most herds were between 1,000 and 10,000 head of cattle. The average cattle drive moved 2,500 head about 1,000 miles.
The perils
Weather
Stampedes
Rustlers
Rivers
Native Americans

12. Who was the American cowboy?
Most were male between the ages of 15 and 25
60% were White
30% were African-American, Hispanic, or Native American
Cowboy Jobs:
Cowboys kept the cattle safe from predators such as coyotes.
Cowboys kept the herds calm at night to prevent stampedes.
Cowboys led the cattle across safe river crossings.
Cowboys roped stray cattle that wandered off and brought them back to the herd.

13. Famous African-American Cowboy- Nat Love
Nat Love was born a slave in Nashville, TN in 1854.
He drove cattle from Texas to Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakota Territory.
In Deadwood, SD, Nat entered a roping contest and won. From then on, he was known as “Deadwood Dick”.
Nat worked as a cowboy until 1890.
Nat became a Pullman Porter in 1890.
He eventually settled in Los Angeles. He died there in 1921 at the age of 67.

14. The end of the Boom
The spread of farming to the plains (Barbed Wire)
The harsh winters in 1886 and 1887, coupled with summer droughts, decimated the cattle herds
The growth of railroads