TAKE OUT YOUR SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS

• WRITE: THE COWBOYWARMUP: 10/9

What comes to your mind when you hear the word, “COWBOY”?

The COWBOYS of the Cattle Kingdom

What factors to the boom and bust in the cattle industry?

The Cattle Kingdom

Before the arrival of the settlers, the Spanish and Mexicans set up cattle ranches in the Southwest. Over the years the strays from these ranches grew into large herds of wild cattle. These cattle were known as longhorns. They roamed across the grassy plains of Texas. As the demand for beef increased the growing cities needed meat. The Texas longhorns were perfect for the market.

In response to the need for meat, ranchers began rounding up the herds of longhorns. They drove the herds hundreds of miles called cattle drives. The Chisholm Trail became the most famous cattle trail. Ranchers employed cowhands to tend the cattle and drive the herds to the market. Their job was to keep the cattle moving and round of strays. Most of these cow hands were Spanish. They were called Vaqueros , or skilled riders who herded cattle on ranches in Mexico.

• From the southernmost tip of Texas, CATTLE TRAILS pointed NORTH

- --The Shawnee– Chisholm Trail– Western Trail– Goodnite Loving TrailAll leading to COWTOWNS on the

railroads (Chicago, Abiline,

The Wild West-Cow TownsCattle drives ended in cow towns. In cow towns the cows were held in large pens until they could be loaded on large trains and shipped to markets in the East. Towns such as Abilene, Kansas and Dodge City sprang up. Cow towns attracted settlers that wanted to build stable communities where families could strive. Each town had a main street where people conducted business. Every town had a general store that sold tools groceries and clothing.

Cattle Trails

COWBOYS•Their job- bringing the cattle

to the railroad to ship East•They were a mixed group:

–Easterners coming West, newly freedmen , ex Confederates/Union soldiers

African American Cowboys

The Gringos

• Learned all they knew from the Mexicans

• How to use a lariat, wear chaps; use spurs

• 10 gallon hats• They owned

their saddles– What a bunch of

GREENHORNS!

• A cowboy used his hat to cool his head and for a cup!

• Chaps- kept skin from chafing./burning after long hours in the saddle

• Vest- wore instead of a coat, had DEEP pockets(to hold chewing tobacco,watch)

• Bandana- pulled over face to protect from dust storms

• Leather gloves – protected from rope burns• Lariat- drag wood to campfire, pull cattle from

mud• 6-shooter- Samuel Colt invents the 6-shooter!

THE LONG DRIVE

•Worked for 4-6 month straight!

•Paid very little•NEVER owned his own horse

• Before Barbed wire, cattle roamed freely on the OPEN RANGE( pre-1870)

• At the end of the Long Drive were cowtowns: Chicago, Abiline, Helena, DeMoines

Quick Draw McGraw and BaBa Louie

REAL COWBOY ROMANTIC

VS.COWBOY

John Wayne!!