The Long Drive (DBQ Background Essay Questions)

How many longhorns were unclaimed in Texas after the Civil War?

• 5 million

• 1 million

• 17 million

What was a major contributor (cause) that ended the glory days of the American cowboy?

• barbed-wire fencing

• The introduction sheep ranching

• Native American attacks

How long would it take for a heard to establish a "rhythm" on the trail?

• About a week

• About two days

• The cattle never established a rhythm on the trail

The end of the trail for many Texas cowboys were in towns like Austin, San Antonio, and Galveston.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The end of the trail for many cowboys was in fact a Kansas cow town like Abilene, Ellsworth, or Dodge City.

More than half of all cowboys returned to Texas after a long drive to do it all over again the next year?

• True

• False

Answer explanation

In fact, only a third of long-drive cowboys returned to Texas to do it all over again the next year.

From the railroad towns, where were most of the cattle shipped off to?

• packing houses

• restaurants

• Europe

Who took care of the horses on a cattle drive?

• brushpoppers

• wranglers

• the trail boss

Brushpoppers chased down unbranded cattle and branded them for their boss.

• True

• False

The first day of the cattle drive was usually slow and easy, so that the heard was not stressed.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The first day of the drive was usually a hard push. The cattle were nervous about leaving familiar ground and were more likely to stray or be spooked into stampeed.