Cattle Ranching & The Rise of Cowboys (jan 1, 1860 – jan 1, 1890)
Description:
- Demand for beef in Eastern cities increased after the Civil War, leading to the expansion of cattle ranching.- Cowboys herded longhorn cattle from Texas to railroad hubs in cities like Dodge City and Abilene, Kansas (famous cattle towns).
- The invention of barbed wire (1874) ended the open range system by allowing farmers and ranchers to fence off land, leading to range wars between ranchers and homesteaders.
- 25% of cowboys were African American—many were former slaves who moved west seeking freedom and economic opportunity.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1860
jan 1, 1890
~ 30 years