American cowboys originated from ex-Confederate soldiers and ex-slaves seeking work after the Civil War. The cattle industry slowly developed on the Great Plains until the 1860s, when demand for beef increased in the East. This led cattle ranchers to expand their operations, driving herds from Texas to railheads in Kansas. The establishment of forts and reservations reduced threats from Plains Indians, allowing the cattle industry to supply meat to the army. Joseph McCoy helped solve the problem of moving cattle by establishing Abilene, Kansas as a railhead in 1867. Later, barbed wire fencing allowed homesteads to expand, ending the need for open-range cattle drives and the "golden age of cowboys" by

1. Cowboys

2. The Cattle Industry on the Great PlainsAnswer Questions 1 – 7Find Out About Early Developments:Where did American cowboys come from?

3. Who became cowboys?Video 1 cowboys

6. Slow DevelopmentSlow and small scale from end of Mexican-American War until Civil War (1861-1865) endsWar cuts off market in EastTexas Longhorns roamed freely and numbers grew; shot as game animals

7. Ex-Confederate soldiers and Ex-slaves sought jobsDemand for meat increased in East as economy took offCattle ranchers began increasing operationsPost Civil War

8. Plains IndiansU.S. Cavalry set up Forts (Fort Laramie, Fort Buford etc.) in West to protect settlersThreat of Indian attacks was reduced as reservations were established Cattle industry secured huge contracts to supply army with foodBy 1870 the US Army was buying between 60 and 70,000 head of cattle a year to feed the Indians and its own soldiers

9. Joseph McCoySolved problem of moving the cattle from Texas to cities of the East.Post-Civil War boom in railroad construction connects east and westStarting in 1867 cattle are loaded onto train cars in Abilene, Kansas and shipped back east…soon other towns begin to competeCattle worth less than $5 in Texas might fetch $30 in Kansas

11. Cattle needed to be driven in large numbers from Texas to railheads in KansasTrails utilized to drive cattle herds to marketLarge scale operation required several cowboys working ‘round the clockCowboys, what good are they?

12. Answer Questions 8-11Find out about:How did a trail drive operate?

14. What do I do?Trail Boss: Best Paid, Worked for same ranch, scouted for water and trouble, negotiated pricePoint: Veterans who rode at front and “drove” herdSwing/Flank: Kept herd together, “cut out” sick animalsDrag: Kept stragglers movingWrangler: Controlled Remuda (extra horses)Chuck Wagon: Driven by cook, carried food and supplies

15. Answer Questions 12-15Find out about:What happened in Abilene?Why the “golden age” of cowboys ended?

16. Video 4 cowboys

17. Joseph Glidden1874 Invents barbed wireMade fences possible for most homesteadersWas his invention a good thing?

18. Mistaken Identity?RealityMythsLonesome FigureRomantic/Heroic Savior Gun Play CommonWorked in Groups

19. Busy Performing Rigorous Job

20. Rarely Used GunsWhere do these false ideas of cowboys come from?

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