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Cattle Drive Patterns

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Cattle Drives The west was rough, untamed, was denied stateship, because of the rowdy people, and towns. The cattle drives, and cowboys shaped the west, the cowtowns, and the people. After the Civil War, there was as shortage of food, mainly beef, so the people of the west, and the ranchers were depended upon for the food, beef. With no, or few railroads, the cowboys were forced to drive the cattle long distances. The cow towns were practically made by the cowboys and the need for beef. They were called boom towns. Boom towns were towns with a few houses, and a general store. With cowboys coming through, the towns boomed, with give or take 27 saloons, 8 gambling halls, and a boot hill were normally added. The towns closest to Texas had bigger, and better attractions. They were the main stops for the cattle, for selling, and then moved down the state's. Over time people realized that the cattle weren't always the reason for the stops, sometimes the women were. The Chisholm trail was the route most taken, according to the price of beef in the towns along the way. Abilene, …show more content…

The Fever was deadly, and very common, spreading to any animal that came within touching distance. The Cowboys often came to the towns and created ruckus, scaring the women and children, and sometimes ruining the towns. Since their was no “law” the towns were a mes. Because of the violence, the cow towns, or boom towns, now had a police force. A marshal was hired for the jobs, to keep the peace, and stop those who didn't, often putting their own lives in danger. This is where the big and famous marshals come in, like Wild Bill Hickok. The towns paid for the marshals, and in return, their towns were orderly, until the cowboys arrived. The Towns were more peaceful, and crimes that were committed, usually didn't go

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