Importance of the Cattle Industry
In the 15th century the Europeans had first brought the long horn cattle into America. These cattle had been in Mexico but eventually spread to Texas when Texas had gained its independence from Mexico. In Texas these long horn cattle were kept in open ranges and were watched over by the cowboys. Before the 1850's these cattle were not harvested for beef because it was not popular but the cattle had be used for there skins and tallow. But then in the 1850's beef began to be more popular than the cattle's skins and tallows and the price of beef rose making some of the ranchers very wealthy. Then when the Civil War had broke out in 1861 between the Northern and Southern states the ranchers in Texas had to leave there cattle to go fight in the war. After the Civil War was over the South had lost and the economy was destroyed, but when the ranchers had gotten back to there cattle the cattle had multiplied. So the ranchers then would sell the cattle to the people in the North for 10 times what they were worth in the South.
Demise of Cowboys and CattleThe demise of cowboys and long horn cattle were caused by a few different reasons. One of the reasons for the demise of the cowboys and long horn cattle was the weather because in the years of 1885-1887 the winters had been extremely cold and snowy followed by over a decade of dry, hot summers. This type of weather killed thousands of long horn cattle on the Texas ranges. Another reason for the demise of cowboys and long horn cattle was because of the constant Native American attacks on the cattle when they were to cross onto there land. These factors and some others ended the era of the long horn cattle drive and cowboys by the mid 1880's.
|
Importance of Railroads to the Cattle IndustryThe railroads were important to the Cattle Industry because after the Civil War when Texas's economy was suffering the cattle ranchers had been selling the cattle to people in the North where cattle was wanted there. The railroads had carried and been the transportation for the cattle to the North.
|