The Cattle Business
What breed of cattle was common in Texas after the Civil War?
Longhorn cattle
What trail went from Texas to Abilene, Kansas?
The Chisholm Trail.
What was the job of a cowboy during a cattle drive?
To guide, herd, and care for cattle.
Name one famous Black cowboy.
Nat Love or Bill Pickett.
What do we call a source created during the time being studied?
A primary source.
Why did northern states want cattle from Texas?
They needed beef to feed their growing cities.
Who was the Chisholm Trail named after?
Jesse Chisholm.
During which seasons did cattle drives usually take place?
Spring and summer.
What was Nat Love known for besides his riding skills?
He participated in rodeos and wrote a book about his adventures.
Is a history textbook written today about the Civil War a primary or secondary source?
A secondary source.
What transportation problem did Texas ranchers face after the Civil War?
Texas lacked the railroad connections needed to transport cattle directly to northern markets.
Which trail was about 1,500 miles long and ran to Dodge City, Kansas?
The Great Western Trail.
About how long did a typical cattle drive last?
Two to three months.
What technique was Bill Pickett known for inventing?
Bulldogging.
A soldier wrote a diary during the Civil War. What type of source is it?
A primary source.
How did cattle trails help Texas recover after the Civil War?
They allowed ranchers to sell cattle, brought money into Texas, and created jobs.
Give two differences between the Chisholm Trail and the Great Western Trail
The Chisholm Trail was about 1,000 miles long and went to Abilene. The Great Western Trail was about 1,500 miles long, went to Dodge City, and was more rugged.
Name three challenges cowboys faced on cattle drives.
Crossing rivers, enduring storms, traveling over rough terrain, avoiding cattle thieves, or dealing with landowners who opposed cattle crossing their property.
What did a trail boss do?
A trail boss led and supervised other cowboys during cattle drives.
Give two examples of primary sources and two examples of secondary sources.
Primary sources include photographs, diaries, letters, and newspapers from the time. Secondary sources include history books, later documentaries, and articles written by historians.
How did cattle trails connect Texas ranchers to people living in northern cities?
Cowboys drove cattle to railroads in Kansas, where the cattle could be sold and transported to northern cities for beef.
Why might a rancher choose the Chisholm Trail instead of the Great Western Trail?
The Chisholm Trail was a relatively direct route and was less rugged than the Great Western Trail.
How did railroads and barbed wire change cattle driving across the West?
Railroads provided more transportation options, while barbed-wire fences restricted open land and made traditional cattle drives less necessary.
Describe two ways Black cowboys contributed to the cattle industry in Texas.
They worked as ranch hands and cattle handlers, drove cattle to railheads, served as trail bosses, and helped grow the cattle industry and shape Texas culture.
Why might a historian use both a soldier's Civil War diary and a modern history book?
The diary provides firsthand evidence, while the history book helps explain and analyze the larger historical events.