Cowboys Essay, Research Paper
Cowboys
How they started
Cattle ranchers began to move out onto the Great Plains in the mid 1800?s In the late 1800?s cowboys became popular in the cattle industry. The American cowboys owe their knowledge of how to tame the cattle to vaquerars (the Mexican cowboys). The animals originally were from the ranches in southern Texas formerly operated by Spaniards and Mexicans. The cowboys often called the wild cattle longhorns, which were the huge herds of wild cattle. About one- third of the cowboys were free black men who had moved west after the Civil War.
Each year Texas ranches would collect huge herds of cattle and start them northward on what was called the long drive. The cowboys would take the herds of cattle along the railroads to get them to urban markets for the nations growing cities.
Clothing
The American cowboy wore a wide brimmed hat that provided shade, to protect him from the sun and the rain. He wore pointed toe boots which slipped easily into the stirrups of his saddle, and the boots had high heels to keep them from slipping. They wrapped leather chaperreras or chaps around their legs to protect them from thorny chaparrel bushes. They carried with them at all times revolver, lasso, whip, and spurs.
.
Housing .
The cowboys lived in wagons called chuck wagons. The chuck wagons included food, sleeping blankets tools and other things to help them along with their journeys. They would sleep on the ground with their blankets. Sometimes they would make a fire. These chuck wagons were not strong or sturdy. Many times while the horse was pulling it an axel would break and the cowboys would have to stop to fix it. This would be a set back for the day. On large ranches the cowboys slept in bunkhouses near the ranch owners house. These house had many discomforts, there were bunks piled on top of each other. The houses were small and dingy. There were pegs on the wall to hang the clothes that the cowboys wore. Most cowboys went to sleep early due to the exhaustion from the days work.
.Diet
.
The cowboys diet included potatoes, beans, bacon, dried fruit, corn meal, coffee and canned food. Most cowboys often woke up at four o?clock in the morning and worked till dusk, they never had much time for eating. The Chuck Wagon carries food, cooking utensils, and drinking water during the trail drive. After the cattle settled down for the night, the cowboys gathered around the wagon to eat. Most of the food would go bad if it was not properly packaged, or if it was old.
Occupations
The cowboys job was to protect the cattle from Indians and wild animals. It was also to keep the cattle from straying away. At roundups the young cattle were branded with the marks of their owners. The steers, belonging to various ranchers were then sorted out. The cowboys also, had to repair bridles, harnesses, and other equipment for their horses, wagons and bunk hoses. All these activities meant hard work but a free and happy life for the cowboy.
Amusements
Vaqueros (Mexican cowboys) often sang songs and played the guitar in the evenings on the open trail after a days work. The American cowboys adopted this custom and created their own songs, many of which are still popular today. Between 1883-1938 Wild West Shows were very popular. These shows were similar to circuses; they reenacted an Indian attack and of course at the last minute a rescue by the American cowboy saving the people. Some of the other featured events included Bronco-Busting, Rough-Riding, Roping, Indian ceremonials, and Sharp shooting
Life Expectancy
In 1850 the life expectancy of a white male living in the U.S was thirty-eight years old. A Cowboy?s prime time in his life was about twenty-four. Many cowboys lasted well into there thirties but due to the hard work and many activities the men were tired and were owed a rest.
Davidson/Lytle Prentice Hall: The United States,
A History of the Republic, page 411, 1990
Davidson/Lytle Prentice Hall; The
American Nation. Page449-52, 1989
Todd/Curti Triumph of the American Nation
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, page 496-500 ,1986.
Wilder, Ludlum, Brown. This is America?s Story.
Houghton Mifflin Fifth Edition, page 470-74, 1983
wwwwplease/ipa /a0005140.html
pbs/weta/thewest/
Другие работы по теме:
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
Centennial Essay Research Paper CentennialThe story of
Centennial Essay, Research Paper Centennial The story of Centennial constitutes the saying, “the winning of the West.” This story is of the land and the Indians who inhabited it and of the people of many nations who came to drive them out. Centennial is based solidly on the facts of history, but history is only the background.
Cowboys Essay Research Paper Although the main
Cowboys Essay, Research Paper Although the main existence of the cowboy lasted only about two decades, the mark that they made on society, then and now, is significant. The cowboy was just a
Cowboys Essay Research Paper American Cowboys Have
Cowboys Essay, Research Paper American Cowboys Have you ever wondered who the cowboys were; how they lived; or what they did? The American Cowboy?s way of life was interesting and unique, and they contributed more to society than one might think. Besides looking after stock and driving cattle, they had to round up huge numbers of cattle for ranchers.
Wagon Essay Research Paper A group of
Wagon Essay, Research Paper A group of wagon comes up, then far away with dust raising This is the scenery we can see constantly in most western movies. Wagon carried out an important character in the Westward Expansion and became a symbol of American west.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Acorn People Essay Research Paper My Brother
Acorn People Essay, Research Paper My Brother Sam Is Dead James & Christopher Lincoln Collier Copyright 1974 Some of the major themes in this book were that Tim and his family has to survive through out this book. Another theme was to keep their store going and not to close it because that is where they make almost all of their money by selling those products.
Internet Search Engines Essay Research Paper The
Internet Search Engines Essay, Research Paper The internet was established as a back up for the military in case of a nuclear attack and all normal communication were cut off. By establishing this form of communication the chain of command would have a way to pass down information and important orders. The military abandoned this idea and gave it to the higher education system.
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Rituals Essay Research Paper Rituals Rituals are
Rituals Essay, Research Paper Rituals Rituals are essential to an athlete to help him or her succeed. Most athletes have rituals that take place before, during, or after a sporting event but some are not as obvious.
Him Essay Research Paper I think about
Him Essay, Research Paper I think about him day and night The though won’t go away And, oh, how I would hold him tight every second of the day He is perfect, that is true, not an average me or you
WinWin Situation Essay Research Paper LOOKING FOR
Win-Win Situation Essay, Research Paper LOOKING FOR A WIN-WIN SITUATION This past weekend marks the largest contract signing in Major League Baseball history. On the 12th of February 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. (formerly of the Seattle Mariners), signed a nine-year $116.5 million contract with his hometown Cincinnati Reds.
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
Andy Warhol Essay Research Paper Andy Warholby
Andy Warhol Essay, Research Paper Andy Warhol by Brandon Noll Andy Warhol was thought to be born around 1929 to 1930 near Pittsburgh to Czech immigrant parents. His real name was Andrew
Rough Riders Essay Research Paper The movie
Rough Riders Essay, Research Paper The movie ” Rough Riders” was about the U.S. Calvary during Spanish American war. The main character is Teddy Roosevelt and he is a crazy general. The calvary consists of all kinds of men. Some are East Coast upper class men, others range from bounty hunters to cowboys, thieves, and Indians.
Typical Westerns Essay Research Paper justyn dallmannTypical
Typical Westerns Essay, Research Paper justyn dallmann Typical Westerns I think that Stephen Crane used alto of ideas from typical writings. I say this because some of the things were not typical but many of them were. This made the story unique because it wasn’t the same as most other westerns but in some ways it was the same.
The History Of The Rams Essay Research
Paper The history of the Rams has not always been in St. Louis as most of you already know. In 1937 a group of business executives decided they wanted a home town football team so they built a stadium that held 3000 people in the
Texas Cattle Drives Essay Research Paper Cattle
Texas Cattle Drives Essay, Research Paper Cattle drives are the stuff of legend. From 1866 to 1890, the heyday of cattle trails saw what was then an enormous amount of traffic. More than one and a half million Texas cattle were essentially “walked to market,” even after the railroads were built.
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Theodore Roosevelt And The Rough Riders Essay
, Research Paper Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders Theodore Roosevelt was not much of a military man but the United States did everything with him that they could. After volunteering for duty, he was sent to help command the First United States Volunteer Calvary. Theodore was then under the command of the regimental commander Colonel Leonard Wood.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Dare Essay Essay Research Paper What DARE
Dare Essay Essay, Research Paper What D.A.R.E Means To Me Dare has prepared me to say no to drugs in eight different ways. If anyone asks me to do drugs I will know what to do, such as- just ignoring the person or just
The Playground Essay Research Paper I have
The Playground Essay, Research Paper I have a friend I used to know who had a playground where we would go The times we had are fresh in my mind but they are from another time
Review After The Man Before By Alan
Mahar Essay, Research Paper Messages behind the panellingAfter the Man Before by Alan Mahar 246pp, MethuenIt is Birmingham in the 1980s, and urban renewal has arrived like spring. Streets ring with the woodpecker tap of joyous hammers, the whistle of cowboys on the make, the collapsing rumble of interior walls.