Open Range

-Great Plains areaRailroads make cattle

big business

-no boundaries to man or cattle

Vast areas of grasslands

-low population

Cattle Kingdom

-greater urban populations demanded more food

-cattle drives to meet railroads

Chisholm TrailAbilene

-legend of the cowboyMexican Influences

Cattle Kingdom

-greater urban populations demanded more food

-cattle drives to meet railroads

Chisholm TrailAbilene

-legend of the cowboyMexican Influences

Cattle’s Decline

-too many cattle

-disease

-drought

-barbed wire fences blocked open range

Mining Towns

-Gold Rushes

California, 1849

Black Hills

Comstock Lode

Alaska

-Ghost Towns

Mining Towns

-Gold Rushes

California, 1849

Black Hills

Comstock Lode

Alaska

-Ghost Towns

Mining Life

-large mix of people

-many opportunities for everyone

-saloons, gambling

-hard luck

“Wild West”

-legend of adventure

Wild Bill HickokCalamity JaneWyatt EarpJesse JamesBilly the Kid

-dime novels that told western tales

-only lasted about 30 years