The Cattle Industry and Cowboys

The cattle industry was one of the most important economic developments in the American West after the Civil War. The era of the great cattle drives and the cowboy has become one of the most iconic images of the American frontier. This lesson examines the rise and fall of the cattle industry and its significance for the AQA GCSE History specification.

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The Origins of the Cattle Industry

Before the Civil War, Texas longhorn cattle roamed freely across the Texas grasslands. They were hardy animals, well-adapted to the dry conditions, but there was no way to get them to the cities of the East where beef was in high demand.

Key factors that made the cattle industry possible: