History of Ranching in Texas

Who established the first ranches in Texas?

• Mexicans

• Spaniards

• U.S. settlers

• Tejanos

Why did the Spanish government order cattle owners to put brands on their cattle?

• so that the Spanish government could keep track of the cattle they owned, cutting down on disputes with ranchers

• so that ranchers could keep track of the cattle they owned, cutting down on disputes with other ranchers

• so that herds could not be sold illegally, either across state lines or to other countries

• so that herds could be identified if they were stolen by American Indians or U.S. settlers

Which of the following was not a difficulty faced by ranchers in Texas?

• limited access to markets

• limited demand within Texas

• cattle drives

• cattle rustlers

Why was it important for Texas ranchers to find a way to get their cattle to cities in the Northeast?

• because the supply of cattle in the South was becoming too great for ranchers to handle

• because cities in the Northeast did not have a regular supply of cattle

• because the demand for cattle in the Northeast would mean high profits for ranchers

• because there were no railways connecting Texas with the Northeast

Why did ranchers eventually stop using the Goodnight-Loving Trail?

• because ranchers needed a route through less populated areas

• because western markets were not profitable for ranchers

• because stockyards eliminated the need for long cattle drives

• because railroads eliminated the need for long cattle drives

What was a remuda?

• a professional horse handler that cared for a crew’s horses on a cattle drive

• a horse wrangler, or thief, that targeted herds of cattle on long drives

• a cowboy that rode at the front of a herd, guiding a cattle drive

• a herd of horses that cowboys used on cattle drives

The Cattle Kingdom was made up of cattle ranches that arose on the open range between Texas and

The long, light rope used by Texas cowboys was a

Based on this table, which of the following statements about the growth of the Texas cattle industry is true?

• The cattle population decreased between 1850 and 1860.

• The number of cattle increased by a factor of 30 between 1840 and 1860.

• The number of cattle in Texas tripled between 1840 and 1850.

• The cattle population remained stable between 1840 and 1860.

Which of the following contributed to the decline of the cattle era in Texas?

• low wages for cowboys

• a limited supply of water on the open plains

• the expansion of farming and sheep ranching

• the increase of imported cattle from Mexico