Cattle, Cotton, and Railroads

How did the transcontinental railroad impact Texas?

• It made travel slower

• It improved trade and transportation

• It stopped all trade

• It destroyed towns

Which factor led to settlement of the Texas frontier (western cattle ranches) after the Civil War?

• Building of schools

• The demand for beef in eastern states

• Laws forbidding barbed wire

• The building of forts

How did the end of the Civil War impact the cattle industry in Texas?

• Many ranches were destroyed by war

• Farmers were forced to move to make room for cattle ranches

• The huge demand for beef in the east caused the cattle industry to grow rapidly

• Many former Confederate Soldiers became indian agents

In 1860 there was only 470 miles of railroad tracks in Texas. By 1900 it had increased to 9,971. Which geographic change resulted from the increase in miles of tract in Texas?

• New cities grew up along the rail lines

• Texas cotton production grew

• Indian tribes moved

• Population in the Mountains and Basins was larger than the rest of the state

Which of the following is the best statement on how climate affected the economic development of West Texas?

• Frequent thunderstorms made it hard to farm

• This area of Texas was too dry for farming so ranches grew instead

• The arid humidity and copious rainfall made it perfect for growing cotton

• Damage frequently occurred from hurricanes so no one wanted to move there

Which of the following is a consequence of the use of barbed wire in Texas?

• Rodeos

• End of Cattle Drives

• The number of ranches declined

• Battles with Native Americans

Which conclusion is supported by the map? (Click of the map to upsize it. Remember to read the map legend)

• All trails that started in Texas ended in Chicago

• Ranchers used the trails to bring cattle to Texas from other states

• After the Civil War, several trails were added to support the growing cattle industry in Texas

• Increased settlement established new markets in Texas

Based on the map, which trail was used first? (Click on the map to upsize it. Be sure to read the map legend)

• Chisholm

• Goodnight-Loving

• Western

• Shawnee

Based on the map, which area of Texas had the most cotton grown in the late nineteenth century?

• Panhandle

• Central Texas

• Mountains and Basins

• Rio Grande Valley

What was a major effect of the introduction of barbed wire on the cattle industry in Texas?

• It increased cattle theft

• It ended the open range system

• It led to more cattle drives

• It decreased cattle prices