Rise of Cattle Industry

• What was the demand for beef before the American Civil War?

  There was a high demand for beef
• Who drove cattle in Texas before the Civil War?

  Cowboys
• What happened to the cattle during the Civil War?

  The unsupervised cattle multiplied
• How much could a cow be sold for in Chicago compared to the South in 1866?

  A cow could be sold for $40 in Chicago and $5 down South
• What was the challenge of getting cattle to the North?

  Finding a way to transport them
• What significant development occurred in 1867 regarding cattle transportation?

  A branch line of the Kansas Pacific Railroad reached Abilene, Kansas
• What change in quarantine rules occurred in Kansas in 1867?

  Kansas relaxed quarantine rules combating Texas fever
• How much land did Joseph McCoy buy in Abilene?

  450 acres
• What did Joseph McCoy build on his land in Abilene?

  Stockyards to load the cattle
• What was the amount spent on marketing by Joseph McCoy?

  $5,000
• How many cattle were driven to Abilene in 1867?

  39,000 cattle
• What was the significance of Joseph McCoy's idea for the cattle industry?

  It introduced the concept of the cow town and improved cattle transportation
• Who were the business partners that established the Goodnight-Loving Trail?

  Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving
• What was the purpose of the Goodnight-Loving Trail?

  To supply beef to the Navajo Indians near Fort Sumner
• How many cattle did Goodnight and Loving drive north?

  2,000 cattle
• What happened to Oliver Loving in 1867?

  He was killed in a Comanche attack
• What was John Iliff's initial business outcome in 1861?

  He sold his herd for $500
• What gap in the market did John Iliff recognize?

  The demand for beef in growing mining settlements
• How many cattle did John Iliff have by 1870?

  26,000 cattle
• What act did John Iliff use to acquire land for his ranch?

  The Homestead Act
• How did John Iliff's ranching strategy differ from traditional cattle drives?

  He fattened cattle on grasslands before selling them locally
• What was the outcome of the beef bonanza in the 1870s?

  There was significant growth in ranching
• What characterized the cattle barons during the 1870s?

  They dominated the cattle industry and used dubious tactics
• What were some challenges faced by the cattle industry?

  Civil War manpower shortages, Indian attacks, and cattle diseases
• What was the impact of unsupervised cattle during the Civil War?

  They multiplied, leading to a fall in beef prices in Texas
• What was the role of railroads in the cattle industry?

  They improved transportation for cattle to northern markets
• What were the main themes of growth in the cattle industry?

  • Development of cattle trails and cow towns
  • Expansion of ranching and open range
  • Improvements in transportation, especially railroads
  • Increased demand from industrial cities and mining towns
  • Key individuals like Goodnight, Loving, Iliff, and cattle barons
• What were the factors that contributed to the rise of the cattle industry?

  • High demand for beef in the North
  • Relaxation of quarantine rules
  • Establishment of cow towns like Abilene
  • Successful cattle drives and ranching strategies
  • Investment from wealthy cattle barons
• What were the consequences of the cattle industry's growth?

  • Increased conflicts with smaller ranchers and homesteaders
  • Development of large, efficient ranches
  • Economic boom in cattle-rich areas
  • Challenges such as cattle diseases and Indian attacks