THE OPEN

RANGE

The rise and fall of the cattle industry

AIMS

• To understand what the Open Range was.

• To understand why it began and why it ended.

OUTCOME

How will I demonstrate my understanding?

I will complete a mindmap and a ranking activity on the importance of the causes.

PROBLEMS FOR THE CATTLE DRIVES

• The spread of homesteaders on the Plains.

• The Indians had been granted land on the Plains by the Government.

• Many of the routes were blocked.

• Indians made people pay for crossing their land.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

THE SOLUTION: RANCHING

• John Iliff bought cattle in 1866 and set up a ranch – or farm – on the Plains.

• He won contracts to supply the army, the Indians and railroad builders with meat.

• As he made money, so other people began to set up farms on the Plains.

WHAT DID A RANCH LOOK LIKE?

• Unfenced, open ranges.

• Watersheds.• Buildings for

cowboys to live in.• Cattle branded to

prove ownership.

WHY WAS RANCHING A SUCCESS?

• The Indians were defeated and in reservations. – how does this help?

• The buffalo were gone – slaughtered.- how does this help?

• Cold weather on the Plains killed the disease in Texan Longhorns.- how does this help?

• Railroads crossing the plains could take cattle east in refrigerated wagons. – how does this help?

• Cattle Breeding improved –how does this help?

TASK 1

• Produce a small mindmap on the open range.

• Explain why it was set up and what its features were.

• Use pages 98-99 to help you.

Task 2 – Why did open range ranching end?

• Add the reasons to your mind map

WHY DID THE OPEN RANGE END?

Falling Profits Winter of 1886-7

Barbed Wire Water

TASK 3

• Put the reasons for the end of the open range into order of importance.

• Write a sentence next to each one explaining how it led to the end.