2. The End of the Open Range The 1880’s was a decade of drastic change. Cattle Kingdoms started to end. Open Range- a vast land area undeveloped land held by the state government for future sale. In the mid-1870 there was so much public lands, ranchers saw no need to buy any of it. They would simply find a good place and stay there.

3. End of the Open Range(cont.) No fences enclosed land, cattle often intermingled Calves born in the last roundup received the same brand as their mother Ranching on the open range worked fairly well in those days Ranchers viewed the grasslands as a resource that they could share, and none could own

4. Changes on the Open Range Many factors ended the open range in Texas Expansion of railroads, population growth, and the spread of farming. Land Policies to Encourage Growth The state government offered free public land to encourage internal improvements Railroads received 90% of this In 1874 Texas offered public land near railroad lines $1.50 an acre. Within 5 years the price fell.

5. Land and Cattle Companies Land policies forced open range ranchers to change Many people thought they needed to own the land they shared with their neighbors Huge privately owned ranches developed soon. An example was the JA Ranch

6. Range Wars Range Wars Ranchers complained of sheep eating grass to the roots and destroying their cattle grazing land. Conflicts worsened as ranchers fenced in their land in the1880s. Fences would cut off public roads and water supplies. Fence cutting started to grow across the area. Later the Legislature made it illegal to cut fences.

7. An End and a Beginning An End and a Beginning The end of the Open Range meant the end of cattle drives The expansion of railroads made cattle drives unnecessary Texas fever made drives even more difficult Kansas barred all Texas cattle from their state in 1885 Texas Ranchers had to compete with better types of beef. The beef market was headed into a long period of decline

8. Changes for Cowboys The end of the open range made changes for cowboys too. Many cowboys lost their jobs due to fewer drives. In 1883, cowboys in the Panhandle went on strike. Texas Rangers were called in to break it.