Changes in The Cattle Industry SOW

Do Now Missing Terms
Until the 1850s, Texas ________ cattle had been bred in Texas and brough north  Cowtown
using cattle _____. However, by 1855, Texas _____ meant that states such as Kansas  1870
 Navajo
and Missouri banned the cattle trade. During the American ________, the cattle  Worthless
trade suffered as cattle were left without care in Texas where they multiplied,  Goodnight
became weak and _________. In 1866, Charles __________ realised there was a  Barons
demand for beef in the west. He used the Goodnight-Loving trail to sell cattle to  McCoy
 Chisholm
railroad workers, miners and the starving ______ Indians. In _____, Joseph _______
 Abilene
took advantage of Kansas allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________  1867
Trail to drive cattle to a small town called ________ which was located by the  Bonanza
railroad. Abilene became known as America’s first ________. However, driving the  Weak
cattle hundreds of miles meant they were _______ and worth less by the time they  Civil War
 John Iliff
reached their destination. By ______, ________had a solution. He began to breed  Longhorn
the cattle on his own _______ in Denver. This meant the cattle could roam the  Fever
___________, eating grass and be rounded up by the _________ when it was time to  Open Plain
go to market. The 1870s was the time of the beef ________ with ranch owners like  Cowboys
Iliff become known as cattle _______.  Trails
 Ranch
Until the 1850s, Texas ________
Longhorn cattle had been bred in Texas and brough
north using cattle _____.
trails However, by 1855, Texas _____
fever meant that states
such as Kansas and Missouri banned the cattle trade. During the American
________,
Civil War the cattle trade suffered as cattle were left without care in Texas
where they multiplied, became weak and _________.
worthless In 1866, Charles
Feedback
__________
Goodnight realised there was a demand for beef in the west. He used the
Goodnight-Loving trail to sell cattle to railroad workers, miners and the
starving ______
Navajo Indians. In _____,
1867 Joseph _______
McCoy took advantage of Kansas
allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________
Chisholm Trail to drive
cattle to a small town called ________
Abilene which was located by the railroad.
Abilene became known as America’s first ________.
cowtown However, driving the
cattle hundreds of miles meant they were _______weak and worth less by the
time they reached their destination. By ______,
1870 ________had
John Iliff a solution. He
began to breed the cattle on his own _______
ranch in Denver. This meant the
cattle could roam the ___________,
open plains eating grass and be rounded up by the
_________
cowboys when it was time to go to market. The 1870s was the time of the
beef ________
bonanza with ranch owners like Iliff become known as cattle _______.
barons
Do Now: The Cattle Industry Do Now: The Cattle Industry
Until the 1850s, Texas ________ cattle had been bred in Texas and Until the 1850s, Texas ________ cattle had been bred in Texas and
brough north using cattle _____. However, by 1855, Texas _____ brough north using cattle _____. However, by 1855, Texas _____
meant that states such as Kansas and Missouri banned the cattle meant that states such as Kansas and Missouri banned the cattle
trade. During the American ________, the cattle trade suffered as trade. During the American ________, the cattle trade suffered as
cattle were left without care in Texas where they multiplied, became cattle were left without care in Texas where they multiplied, became
weak and _________. In 1866, Charles __________ realised there weak and _________. In 1866, Charles __________ realised there
was a demand for beef in the west. He used the Goodnight-Loving was a demand for beef in the west. He used the Goodnight-Loving
trail to sell cattle to railroad workers, miners and the starving ______ trail to sell cattle to railroad workers, miners and the starving ______
Indians. In _____, Joseph _______ took advantage of Kansas Indians. In _____, Joseph _______ took advantage of Kansas
allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________ Trail to allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________ Trail to
drive cattle to a small town called ________ which was located by drive cattle to a small town called ________ which was located by
the railroad. Abilene became known as America’s first ________. the railroad. Abilene became known as America’s first ________.
However, driving the cattle hundreds of miles meant they were However, driving the cattle hundreds of miles meant they were
_______ and worth less by the time they reached their destination. _______ and worth less by the time they reached their destination.
By ______, ________had a solution. He began to breed the cattle By ______, ________had a solution. He began to breed the cattle
on his own _______ in Denver. This meant the cattle could roam the on his own _______ in Denver. This meant the cattle could roam the
___________, eating grass and be rounded up by the _________ ___________, eating grass and be rounded up by the _________
when it was time to go to market. The 1870s was the time of the when it was time to go to market. The 1870s was the time of the
beef ________ with ranch owners like Iliff become known as cattle beef ________ with ranch owners like Iliff become known as cattle
_______. _______.
 Cowtown  Barons  Bonanza  Fever  Cowtown  Barons  Bonanza  Fever
 1870  McCoy  Weak  Open Plain  1870  McCoy  Weak  Open Plain
 Navajo  Chisholm  Civil War  Cowboys  Navajo  Chisholm  Civil War  Cowboys
 Worthless  Abilene  John Iliff  Trails  Worthless  Abilene  John Iliff  Trails
 Goodnight  1867  Longhorn  Ranch  Goodnight  1867  Longhorn  Ranch
Insert Date
Key question: Why was there a decline of the Cattle Industry & the
end of the Open Range?
Topic 3: Conflicts and conquest, c1876-c1895
Component 1: Changes in farming
Students will learn about the impact of new technology and new farming methods.
Last lesson
Component 2: The cattle Industry

Students will learn about the changes in the cattle industry following the winter of 1886-
This lesson 87.
Component 3: Growth of settlement. The students will learn about the continued growth of
settlement through the Exoduster movement and the Oklahoma Land Rush
Next lesson
Knowledge Organiser
Key Words
• Overstocked - The situation when too many animals
are relying on the same area of pasture: the grass gets
eaten up, the soil is damaged and animals can
become weak as a result of hunger.
• Drought - When there are severe shortages of water
because it hasn’t rained for a long time.
• Rustling - Stealing livestock.
• Branding - A mark burnt into skin using a heated piece
of metal.
1. Lower Prices I Do
Our analysis of the cattle industry begins at its peak However, with so many
during the ‘Beef Bonanza’ of the 1870s. Investment in people wanting to Here’s the
the cattle industry led to huge amounts of profit being invest in the cattle economics
made. Some cattle ranchers gained so much wealth industry, the number of
and power, they were known as ‘cattle barons’. cattle vastly increased. lesson!
So many people invested The ‘supply’ of cattle was
What’s greater, the What happens to
in cattle ranching, that now greater then than
‘supply’ or the the price of the
many ranches became ‘demand’ for them. There
‘demand’ for cattle? cattle now?
‘overstocked’. were too many cattle.
The cattle ranchers kept the What do you think the

The price of cattle
How does this link cattle ‘just in case’ prices cattle ranchers would
fell and so the cattle
back and make a increased again. However, want to do with any
ranchers were
cycle? this just increased the cattle that have not
getting less profit.
number of cattle. been sold?
2. Damage to pasture land I Do
Unfortunately, by the 1880s, so much money went into cattle ranching on the Plains that cattle
became overstocked. There were too many cattle on the same areas of grassland and with too many
of them, the price of cattle fell.
Weak Cattle Extreme weather

Overgrazing
Cattle were allowed to roam free In 1883, a lack of rain led to
With less good quality
and graze on the ‘Open Plain’. The a severe drought. More
grass, the cattle became
number of cattle grazing across grass died. Prairie fires also
weaker. This produced
the plains meant that some grass increased which reduced
poorer quality meat and
did not have time to re-grow. the grass even further.
prices for this meat fell.
Some of the land dried up. The
cattle also shared the grassland
with the buffalo.
3. The ‘Great Die-up’ I Do
It can be argued however, Temperatures fell to as low The cowboys struggled to
that a key turning point for as -55 degrees. Cattle reach stranded cattle across
the decline of the cattle struggled to access the grass the vast open plains in time
industry came in the winter and water they needed to rescue them and break
of 1886-7. through deep snow and ice. the ice.
At least 15% of the open range cattle died. The cattle

that did survive were in very poor condition. Cattlemen
tried to sell their cattle for anything they could.
Many ranch owners became bankrupt, especially

the larger ranches which covered the most amounts
of area which lost the most
Some of the smaller ranches however, still suffered but coped better as their cowboys
were able to locate and save their cattle more easily.
Consequences of the ‘Great Die-up’ I Do
As a result of these problems, it was decided by most cattle ranchers that they needed to
change the way they ranched.
Rather than have vast ranches where the cattle were allowed to roam on the ‘open plain’,
cattle ranching would now take place on much smaller, enclosed ranches.
Here, the cattle could be looked after and protected
more closely, they could be easily found in poor
weather conditions and their diet could be closely
monitored. It also gave smaller cattle ranchers an
equal opportunity in business.
All of these improvements would result in their meat

being of a much higher quality. This would then result
in the price of the cattle being much higher.
The impact of the end of the open range I Do
The terrible winter of 1886–87 was called the ‘Great Die Up’ because of the huge losses in
the herds of the open range. The end of the open range meant that fewer cowboys were
needed. Those that remained in the cattle industry got jobs as ranch hands.
• The life of a ranch hand was not adventurous. Ranch hands did jobs around the ranch,
such as branding cattle, looking after horses and calves and mending fences
• They lived in bunkhouses, which were often not very comfortable – leaking roofs, thin
walls and beds full of lice. There were rules to follow
• They were responsible for ‘riding the line’: patrolling the boundary between one ranch
and another.
Key question: Why was there a decline of the Cattle Industry & the end of the Open Range? We Do
Task One
Using the information page answer the questions on your guided reading sheet.
Key question: Why was there a decline of the Cattle Industry & the end of the Open Range? You Do
Task Two: Practice Exam Question: importance [16]
How does question 3 work?
You will need to explain two separate Check how many

consequences of the importance of the winter. marks the question
Identify is worth – this will
the help you manage
command
Explain the importance of the winter of 1886-7 for the your time.
word – this cattle industry in the American West. [8]
question
will always
ask you to
‘explain’. You will be required to explain the importance of two
events.
Key question: Why was there a decline of the Cattle Industry & the end of the Open Range? You Do
Task Two: Practice Exam Question: Importance [8]
Explain the importance of the winter of 1886-7 for the cattle industry
in the American West. [8]
This led to… As a result of…
Importance and significance

… Question 3 tests your ability to explain how and why an event is This further…
Consequently
significant. A strong answer would explain two or three
consequences of the event and contain relevant factual This meant that…
This resulted
in.. knowledge. The best answers will also be organised using the PEEL
structure, using ‘linking’ phrases, such as ‘It was also important
because it led to…’ or, ‘Thirdly, it meant that…’.
Using PEEL I Do
One way that the winter of 1886-7
Point New paragraph used for each consequence.
States the consequence clearly. You need to
identify two-three consequences.
was important for the cattle industry
because…
Evidence
Supporting evidence – 3 detailed sentences This meant that…, For example…
using accurate and relevant knowledge of the
period. Key terms show strong knowledge of
the topic.
Explanation
Explains why this consequence was This led to… , As a result…, this was
significant also important because…
Link… Links explanation of importance to sentence question. Therefore, this was important for…
because
Exam question: Explain the importance of the winter of 1886-7 for the cattle industry in the American West. [8] You Do
One way that the winter of 1886-7 was important for the cattle industry was because there were huge losses in the cattle herds on the
open range this was known as…
The ‘Great Die-Up’ was when…
It had huge consequences for… because…
At least…
Many cattlemen…
The end of the open range meant that… and those that remained in the cattle industry were employed as…
As a result they had less adventurous lives because…
They lived in…
Therefore, the huge losses in the… was important in the… as this meant that the cattle drives to cow towns such as… were a thing of
the past as the industry focused on smaller… in which there were many benefits.
Another way in which the winter of 1886-7 was important for the cattle industry was because smaller ranches became…
Larger ranches found it…
Smaller ranches…
Smaller herds could…
In times of drought…
Smaller herds were also easier to…
Smaller herds reduced…
This enabled…
As a result,…
Therefore,
At least…
Many cattlemen…
They lived in…
Therefore, the huge losses in the… was important in the… as this meant that the cattle drives to cow towns such as… were a thing of
the past as the industry focused on smaller… in which there were many benefits.
Another way in which the winter of 1886-7 was important for the cattle industry was because smaller ranches became the model for the
cattle industry instead of the larger… belonging to cattle barons such as…
Smaller ranches…
This enabled…
As a result, some ranches went onto… whilst others went… and had to… and so the… moved in.
Therefore, the benefits of smaller ranches for the cattle industry meant that the relationship between ranches and homesteaders was and
as a result… there was no… because…
Exit Ticket
A Read the statements and tick the appropriate answer B
Farmer 1. The term to describe the young men responsible for herding cattle and looking after them in the ranch. Cowboy
Rustling 2. This crime could be far better controlled in small ranches as they were easy to guard. Prospecting
Drought 3. This extreme weather condition affected the cattle hugely in 1883. Heavy rainfall
Drought 4. This meant that water could not be accessed by the cattle during the winter of 1886-7. Ice
Soil 5. The food relied upon by the cattle as well as the buffalo on the open range Grass
Homesteaders 6. This group of individuals benefitted from the growth of small ranch cattle farming. Ranchers
They became bankrupt 7. This is what happened to many large cattle ranchers after the winter of 1886-7. They became rich
Decreased 8. This happened to the price of cattle once the cattle industry had moved onto smaller ranches. Increased
Open Range 9. This term describes how cattle were allowed to roam free on the Great Plains before being gathered by the cowboys in the Great Plains
spring months.
Enclosed 10. This term describes how the smaller cattle ranches could be fenced off in order to protect the cattle. Open range
Understocked 11. This is what happened to the cattle ranches once too many cattle were bred in the American West Overstocked
Loss 12. This reduced once the condition and then the price of cattle declined Profit
Feedback
spring months.
Resources
Do Now: The Cattle Industry Do Now: The Cattle Industry
Until the 1850s, Texas ________ cattle had been bred in Texas and Until the 1850s, Texas ________ cattle had been bred in Texas and
brough north using cattle _____. However, by 1855, Texas _____ brough north using cattle _____. However, by 1855, Texas _____
meant that states such as Kansas and Missouri banned the cattle meant that states such as Kansas and Missouri banned the cattle
trade. During the American ________, the cattle trade suffered as trade. During the American ________, the cattle trade suffered as
cattle were left without care in Texas where they multiplied, became cattle were left without care in Texas where they multiplied, became
weak and _________. In 1866, Charles __________ realised there weak and _________. In 1866, Charles __________ realised there
was a demand for beef in the west. He used the Goodnight-Loving was a demand for beef in the west. He used the Goodnight-Loving
trail to sell cattle to railroad workers, miners and the starving ______ trail to sell cattle to railroad workers, miners and the starving ______
Indians. In _____, Joseph _______ took advantage of Kansas Indians. In _____, Joseph _______ took advantage of Kansas
allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________ Trail to allowing cattle back into the state. He used the _________ Trail to
drive cattle to a small town called ________ which was located by drive cattle to a small town called ________ which was located by
the railroad. Abilene became known as America’s first ________. the railroad. Abilene became known as America’s first ________.
However, driving the cattle hundreds of miles meant they were However, driving the cattle hundreds of miles meant they were
_______ and worth less by the time they reached their destination. _______ and worth less by the time they reached their destination.
By ______, ________had a solution. He began to breed the cattle By ______, ________had a solution. He began to breed the cattle
on his own _______ in Denver. This meant the cattle could roam the on his own _______ in Denver. This meant the cattle could roam the
___________, eating grass and be rounded up by the _________ ___________, eating grass and be rounded up by the _________
when it was time to go to market. The 1870s was the time of the when it was time to go to market. The 1870s was the time of the
beef ________ with ranch owners like Iliff become known as cattle beef ________ with ranch owners like Iliff become known as cattle
_______. _______.
 Cowtown  Barons  Bonanza  Fever  Cowtown  Barons  Bonanza  Fever
 1870  McCoy  Weak  Open Plain  1870  McCoy  Weak  Open Plain
 Navajo  Chisholm  Civil War  Cowboys  Navajo  Chisholm  Civil War  Cowboys
 Worthless  Abilene  John Iliff  Trails  Worthless  Abilene  John Iliff  Trails
 Goodnight  1867  Longhorn  Ranch  Goodnight  1867  Longhorn  Ranch
Read the information sheet
8. Outline 5 ways that using smaller ranches would be a
1. List 4 reasons why the Plains Indians often agreed to and answer the questions benefit to the cattle industry.
settle in reservation land. ___________________________________
4. What was the result of overstocking of cattle for the
________________________________ health of the cattle themselves? ___________________________________
________________________________ ___________________________________
_________________________________
________________________________ ___________________________________
_________________________________
________________________________ ___________________________________
_________________________________
2. Explain what the problems were with cattle ranching
_________________________________ 9. Explain the consequences of the end of the open range
________________________________
on the open plains
5. Explain the ways that drought and a lack of rain affected
for the cowboys.
________________________________ the cattle industry during the 1880s. ___________________________________
_________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________
_________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________
_________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________ _________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________ 6. List at least 5 problems for the cattle industry caused by ___________________________________
the conditions during the winter of 1886-7.
________________________________ _________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________ _________________________________ 10. Deeper Learning: How would the improvement in
3. What was the economic consequence of cattle being farming technology and machinery help the small ranches
overstocked? _________________________________ during the 1880s? (Think back to your learning from
________________________________ _________________________________ previous lessons).
________________________________
________________________________ _________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________ 7. What did this extreme weather event teach the cattle
ranchers about their cattle business?
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
Further development of the Cattle Industry: The end of the Open Range
The Cattle Industry so far… Unfortunately, by the 1880s, so much money went into cattle ranching on the Plains that cattle became overstocked. There were too many cattle on the same areas of
grassland and with too many of them, the price of cattle fell.
1850s: Texas Longhorn cattle mainly
ranched in Texas.
OVERSTOCKING OVERGRAZING POOR CONDITION LESS PROFIT A FALL IN DEMAND EXTREME WEATHER
1861: The American Civil War results Too many cattle were Grass did not have With less grass, the By 1882, profits were With so much beef When drought hit in 1883,
in cattle herds being left to multiply. grazing on the same time to re-grow once cattle became going down. Ranchers kept available for cities in the the grass dried even more.
Cattle herds in poor condition. amount of grass. This eaten. Cattle did not weaker. This the cattle just in case the east, prices reduced. Prairie fires from storms
led to the grass have enough to eat produced poorer prices increased again. Cattle ranchers received also reduced the grass
1865: After the Civil War, the demand eroding. and the land dried up. quality meat to sell. Hence, even more cattle. less money further.
for beef increases in the north.
1861: Cattle still banned from

entering some states such as Kansas
The Great Winter Die Up 1886 - 7
and Missouri due to Texas Fever
The winter of 1886 into 1887 was very harsh with temperatures falling to -55 degrees. Cattle were already weaker due to overstocking but now they struggled to get
to the grass through the deep snow and ice. At least 15% of the open range cattle died which led to thousands of lost cattle. Many cattlemen and their ranches
1866: Goodnight & Loving Trial
became bankrupt. The stock that did survive into the spring of 1887 were in poor condition but everyone tried to sell what they had – this made beef prices even
moves cattle instead to the West
(reservations, army forts, mining
lower. The larger ranches which had made huge profits in the 1870s had the most problems – the area they had to cover to save their cattle was too large. The smaller
towns and railroad builders). ranches, with cowboys able to locate and save their cattle coped much better.
1867: Joseph McCoy uses the The only way for cattle ranches to survive was to end ranching on The Consequence of the end of the open range for cowboys
Chisholm Trail to drive cattle to the huge areas of the open range. Cattleman began to develop  The Great Winter Die Up had consequences for the
Abilene. Stockyard are built at the much smaller ranches. cowboys as well as the ranch owners.
railhead where cattle is transported
 Smaller herds could be easily found in bad weather for food and shelter.  It meant that there was much less demand for the
to the east.
 Smaller ranches were a lot easier to manage, to keep a watch on cattle cowboys. Those that remained were just employed as
1871: John Iliff begins ranching on and make sure they were well fed and watered. basic ranch hands during parts of the year and many
the open range in the West removing  More homesteaders took over cattle ranching as they could keep cattle had to seek other employment.
the need for long cattle drives. on their small area of land. This gave more people  Their lives were far less adventurous with far less
an opportunity to make a living from freedom. All they needed to do was to brand the cattle,
1875: Refrigerated railroad cars cattle ranching. look after their horses and the calves, repair barbed
developed. Ranched beef can now wire fences and inspect the grasslands.
 Smaller ranches would provide water easily
be sold to distant markets easily.
during drought with better metal wind pumps.  They were mainly responsible for ‘Riding the Line’
1876: The cattle industry experiences  Smaller ranches were easier to guard so there which meant patrolling the boundary of the ranch.
a beef bonanza. Investors support was a reduced amount of rustling.  They lived in bunkhouses which were often not very
ranching on the Plains. Cattle barons  Smaller ranches meant higher quality meat comfortable and poorly maintained.
gain huge wealth and influence. which led to higher prices and profit.
At least…
Many cattlemen…
They lived in…
Therefore, the huge losses in the… was important in the… as this meant that the cattle drives to cow towns such as… were a thing of the
past as the industry focused on smaller… in which there were many benefits.
Another way in which the winter of 1886-7 was important for the cattle industry was because smaller ranches became…
Smaller ranches…
This enabled…
As a result,…
Therefore,
At least…
Many cattlemen…
They lived in…
Therefore, the huge losses in the… was important in the… as this meant that the cattle drives to cow towns such as… were a thing of the
past as the industry focused on smaller… in which there were many benefits.
Another way in which the winter of 1886-7 was important for the cattle industry was because smaller ranches became the model for the
cattle industry instead of the larger… belonging to cattle barons such as…
Smaller ranches…
This enabled…
As a result, some ranches went onto… whilst others went… and had to… and so the… moved in.
Therefore, the benefits of smaller ranches for the cattle industry meant that the relationship between ranches and homesteaders was and
as a result… there was no… because…
Exit Ticket
spring months.

Changes in The Cattle Industry SOW

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Do Now Missing Terms

Component 2: The cattle Industry

The cattle ranchers kept the What do you think the

Weak Cattle Extreme weather

At least 15% of the open range cattle died. The cattle

Many ranch owners became bankrupt, especially

All of these improvements would result in their meat

You will need to explain two separate Check how many

Importance and significance

1861: Cattle still banned from

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