1. The Cattle Kingdom

2. Cattle ranching made big money for 20 years (1867-1886)
The Texas longhorn was a very tough breed and had 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. Cowboys Vaqueros – the 1st 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, overproduction & an economic depression caused cattle prices to drop. 
In 1885 & 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 30%, or more, of their herds. 
Cattle ranching became much more costly. 
These disasters & greater competition for land from homesteaders brought an end to the Cattle Kingdom.

9. The End!