Cowboys- the Real Deal

• skills, techniques, and tools were from Mexico

• the cattle ranch dated from Spanish days

Origins of the cattle and cowboy “culture”

Demand for beef booms after the Civil War

growth of northern cities

spread of railroads

Longhorn Cattle• Sturdy breed

• Accustomed to dry grassland

Railroads could transport cattle to big city meat packing centers, especially Chicago

Railroads could transport the meat all over the east

But the cattle had to get to the

railroad…

The long drive

Cattle trails and cattle towns

Sedalia

Who were the cowboys?

25% were black 12% were Mexican

Life of a cowboy…in his own words“Oh, I'm a lonely cowboy and I'm off the Texas trail,My trade is cinchin' saddles and pullin' bridle reins.For I can twist a lasso with the greatest skill and ease,Or rope and ride a bronco most anywhere I please.”

“We're up in the morning at breaking of day,The chuck wagon's busy, the jacks are in play.The herd is astir over hillside and valeWith the night riders crowding them onto the trail.

The sun circles upward, the steers as they plodAre pounding to powder the hot prairie sod.And it seems, as the dust makes you dizzy and sickThat we'll never reach noon and the cool shady creek.”

End of the cattle boom

overgrazing

barbed wire

long periods of bad weather

I’m gong to leave ol’ Texas now,they’ve got no use for the longhorn cow.They’ve plowed and fenced my cattle range,and the people there are all so strange.

I’ll take my horse and I’ll take my rope,and hit the trail upon a lope.Say adios to the Alamo,and turn my head toward Mexico.

The Rise of Cowboy Culture

• Growing cities raised demand for beef.

• New big business.

• Adapted from Spanish rancheros and Mexico vaqueros.

• The extension of the railroad gave ranchers access to urban markets.