1. What allowed for the expansion of the ranching industry?
Im REALLY struggling in this test, so could someone PLEASE HELP
Does the answer have to do with the railroads making transportation easier?
Definitely.
During what time period?
Read through many of these search results, and you should find what you need:
https://www.google.com/search?q=expansion+of+the+ranching+industry+in+texas+1800s&oq=expansion+of+the+ranching+industry+in+texas+1800s&aqs=chrome..69i57.7934j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Of course, I'd be happy to help you! The expansion of the ranching industry was made possible by several factors. Here's how you can approach answering this question:
1. Historical context: Understand the historical background of the era when the ranching industry expanded. In this case, you should focus on the period of Western expansion in the United States, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Migration and settlement: The availability of vast open land in the Western states, such as Texas, Montana, and Wyoming, attracted people looking for new opportunities. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered free land to settlers who were willing to develop and improve it, which further encouraged migration and settlement.
3. Cattle drives: The development of cattle trails, like the Chisholm Trail and the Goodnight-Loving Trail, enabled ranchers to transport large herds of cattle from remote areas to growing markets in the Midwest and East. These cattle drives were made possible by the availability of open grazing lands and the expansion of railroads, which provided a means of transporting cattle over long distances.
4. Technology: Innovations such as barbed wire fencing allowed ranchers to enclose large areas of land, preventing stray cattle from mingling with their herds. This made ranching more efficient and reduced conflicts between different ranchers' cattle.
5. Demand for beef: The growing urban population in the United States during the late 19th century increased the demand for beef. As the rail network expanded, it became easier to transport beef from the ranches to the cities, creating a profitable market for ranchers.
6. Government policies: The U.S. government supported the expansion of the ranching industry by enacting policies that promoted westward expansion, provided land grants to railroads, and allowed ranchers to lease public lands for grazing purposes.
By combining your knowledge of these factors with information from your studies or textbooks, you should be able to provide a comprehensive answer to the question. Good luck with your test! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.