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1. the cattle boom in the 19^th century

2. the cowboys’ job on the ranch

3. the cowboys’ job on a cattle drive

4. two famous cattle trails

5. some items of a cowboy’s clothing and their purpose.

 

After the American Civil War, cattle owners in Texas and other western states realised they could make a lot of money by selling their cattle to the large cities of the Northeast. They employed cowboys to look after the cattle on the ranches and to drive them to the market towns of the Midwest. There the cattle were sold, loaded onto trains and shipped east. The cattle industry enjoyed a boom during the 1870s and 1880s and some cattle men made huge fortunes.

Cowboys were excellent horsemen as they actually ‘lived in the saddle’. Their job was difficult and dangerous and they were tough people. The cattle drives took up to two months and there could be up to 3,000 cattle in a herd. It was hot and dusty, and the ground was rough. The cowboys had to get the herd across the rivers, guard it against Indian and bandit raids, and head off stampedes that might scatter the cattle over several miles. They had guns, usually a Colt revolver or a Winchester rifle, and were very good shots. At night they took turns to guard the herd against cattle-thieves. They used to play the guitar and sing next to the fire. Their songs have become part of American folklore.

The Old Chisholm Trail was one of the tracks along which the cowboys travelled with their herds. It went from the Mexican border, through Texas to Abilene, Kansas. Another famous trail was the Western Trail which led to Dodge City, Kansas, which is still called ‘the cowboy capital of the world’.

The cowboys’ main job on the ranch was to watch over the cattle and patrol the range. Twice a year cowboys rounded up the cattle, selected them for the market and branded new calves. A roundup was an important event in a cowboy’s life. It was also a social event which gathered many cowboys together. Often, after they had finished their work, they held a contest called a rodeo, competing in bareback riding, calf-roping and other tests of skill.

The cowboy’s typical clothing developed from practical needs. His high-heeled boots protected his legs and feet while the heel gave him a hold in the stirrup. Leather chaps protected his legs from thorns and branches. His broad-rimmed hat was designed to keep the sun and wind out of his eyes and to protect him from rain. It could also be used as a bucket for water. He wore a neckerchief or bandana which could be pulled over his face as a filter against dust.

 

 

 

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