Lesson 1: Cattle Trails

Introduction

Important Icon In this lesson, you will consider the significance of cattle trails, black cowboys, the railroad,

and how supply and demand can play an important role in making decisions. Important Icon

Focus Questions:

How did economic incentives influence cattle drives in the late 1800s? 

Why were cattle trails and drives needed? 

Why did cattle drives come to an end?

Cattle Trails

Howdy Students! 

  In your journal:  Print the notes page and complete it as you go through the slides. If you do not have access to a printer, another option is to draw/write your notes page in your social studies journal.

Cattle Drive Notes Download Cattle Drive Notes

View the slideshow below to learn more about Texas Ranchers and how they used cattle trails to move their cattle to make a larger profit!

In your journal: Now, we will review some of the key terms you learned today. Throughout this unit, we will learn new words while adding to the key terms we have already learned. As you learn the words, draw a  table in your social studies journal to keep up with the terms and definitions you learn with each new lesson. I have included what this may look like below.

Create two columns to record vocabulary words. Write the word in the left column and the definition in the right column.

 Interactive

The decisions made by the Texas Ranchers were based on the economic needs of themselves and their communities. Supply and demand can play an important role in making choices. As we close, reflect on how the outcome would have been different if the ranchers chose to sell the cattle in Texas.

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