In this one-day lesson, students will examine the main events and defining characteristics of Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads.
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Pacing
Just the Basics: To meet the TEKS requirements while minimizing the amount of time spent in the unit, educators can focus solely on the following lessons (Approximately 7 - 8 class periods)
- The Big Picture (1 class period)
- Vocabulary (2 class periods)
- What’s the Story? (1 - 2 class periods)
- Frontier Wars (1 class period)
- Cattle and Cowboys (1 class period)
- The Problem with Cotton (1 class period)
Contents
Era Overview
Texas was greatly impacted by the migration and settlement of Americans from the eastern and southern states in the years following Reconstruction. As settlers migrated west in the years between 1870 and 1900, they interacted with both the human and physical geography of Texas. The establishment of railroads in the state greatly impacted the rate of settlement, development of new industries, and displacement of Native Texans.
The American Indians suffered greatly at the hands of railway construction. Bitter wars with settlers resulted in the forced displacement of native tribes onto reservations and the destruction of the buffalo that they depended on for survival.
With more and more railroads constructed in and across Texas, cattle driving, ranching, and cotton farming became major industries in Texas during the late 1870s. During the period of Reconstruction and shortly after, more and more Texans took an interest in cattle driving and ranching. Young men rushed to Texas to drive cattle into the American Northwest, which led to a new “cowboy” culture. The cattle industry faced many challenges including Texas Fever and dangers along the cattle drives. The introduction of barbed wire led to the growth of large ranches, which eventually ended the cattle drives in Texas.
In addition to cattle driving, the expansion of cotton farming swept across the state. Texas became a major producer of cotton. The overproduction of cotton resulted in the cotton industry collapsing and many poor farmers falling into financial trouble. The farming population of Texas experienced many difficulties and challenges due to the overgrowth of cotton and the corrupt business practices of the railroad industry.
Unit Level Downloads (English)
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Downloadable/Editable versions of the English language unit plan. Provides an Era Overview and pacing, and outlines each lesson’s estimated completion time, essential questions, a description of each lesson, and student learning experiences and activities.
Other Units
Lessons
Most lessons contain downloadable and printable documents, activities, and other resources to aid in classroom instruction. Lesson materials are available in multiple formats and typically contain variations based on learning needs. Learn more about alternative formats here.
The Big Picture
How Do We Know What We Know?
In this one-day, primary source lesson, students will analyze a set of ten excerpts related to major topics and events of the Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads era.
Vocabulary
In this two-day lesson, students will be able to identify, define and give an example of each vocabulary term within the context of the Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads era.
What's the Story?
In this two-day lesson, students will examine six readings presenting significant events that took place during Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads and identify their significance to United States and Texas history.
Who's who of Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads
In this one or multi-day optional extension lesson, students will read passages about key people of Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads to identify and summarize each person’s significance to the era. This lesson includes multiple ways to interact with the materials including biographical fact sheets, a dinner party activity, “I have / Who has” and student worksheets.
Frontier Wars
This one day lesson presents information about the frontier wars, including the causes, key events, individuals involved, outcome, and significance to Texas history. Key events include the depletion of Plains bison herds, the Salt Creek Massacre, the fight at Adobe Walls, and the Red River War.
Cattle and Cowboys
In this one day lesson, students take part in a stations activity to examine various topics related to cowboys and the cattle industry in Texas.
The Problem with Cotton
In this one day lesson, students will identify the various economic challenges facing farmers during the period and examine different ways farmers attempted to address these challenges including the formation of groups like the Grange, the Farmer’s Alliance, and the Populist Party.
Texas Today
In this one day lesson, students will examine the origins, purpose, key details, development, and modern significance of the Texas Railroad Commission.
Looking Ahead
In this one day lesson, students will be able to explain the significance of the 1901 discovery of oil at Spindletop and summarize the effects of this discovery in Texas, U.S., and world history.
Study Guide and Flashcards
In this one day review lesson, students will identify the significance of key terms, cause and effect relationships between significant events, and answer practice test questions to prepare for the unit 10 test.
Review Bingo Game
In this one day review lesson, students will review key terms, ideas, people, places, events, and major themes of Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads by playing Bingo using terms from the unit and clues about each term.
Review Mind Map
In this one-day review lesson, students will create a visual representation of terms and concepts from the unit in the form of a mind map. Students will be able to identify how information from the unit is connected by making connections between terms on a mind map.
Maps
We've assembled the following list of maps that are applicable to the Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads Unit.
Map aboriginal America: showing the distribution and territorial limits of the Indian nations, in the new world
"Map shows Native American tribe locations across the United States and portions of Mexico and Canada."
The Santa Fé Trail
"Map shows historical trade routes across the western United States. Includes legend and illustrations."
Map of the Texas & Pacific Rail Way
"Map shows highlighted railroad routes between Shreveport and Texarkana across north central Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and California to San Diego."
'Texas New Yorker' Travelers' railroad map of the State of Texas
"Map shows late nineteenth century south, central, and east Texas railroads, counties, and county seats. Includes illustration, 'HQ for Texas,' and text, 'Historical Statistics concerning Texas.'."
A geographically correct map of the State of Texas
"Map shows counties, cities, towns, military posts, existing railroads, proposed railroads. Native American tribal locations in "Indian Territory" is also indicated."
Correct map of Texas
"Map shows "railroads in operation, railroads in course of construction, wagon roads, and county seats." Includes advice and statistical tables on wages, prices on goods, lumber, as well as how and why to go to Texas."
Colonists' and emigrants' route to Texas
"Map shows pictorial representation of Texas cities, towns, and military posts in European fashion [as if built on a hill]; roads, railroads, steam ship lines into Galveston, "International Overland Route," and rivers."
Map of the Texas short line: St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern, Texas & Pacific and International & Great Northern Railways
"Map shows main and connecting railroad routes from St. Louis to cities in Arkansas and Texas and stops along those routes. Includes panel below map with advertising text."
Map showing Cattle Trails as used from 1866 to 1895
"Map of the cattle trails throughout Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas, used to travel northward to markets and shipping points. The map also includes state boundaries, major towns, bodies of water, and areas of elevation."
The Best and Shortest Cattle Trails From Texas
"Map of the cattle trails throughout Texas, present-day Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas, used to travel northward to markets and shipping points. The map also includes towns, railroads, and bodies of water."
Cram's railroad and county map of Texas
"Map shows counties, major cities and towns, and railroads in all but westernmost tip of Texas; Native American nations and township grid in adjoining Indian Territory; counties, major cities and towns, railroads, township grid, and areas of Native American habitation."
Public sale of town lots, at Hubbard City : on the Texas and St. Louis Railway, Thursday, August 11, 1881
"Map shows late nineteenth century Hubbard, Texas street names, block and lot numbers, lot and street dimensions, parks, courthouse, schools, and railroads. Includes text describing advantages of Hubbard City, the terms of sale, and railroad transportation to the sale."
The railroad system of Texas on September 1st, 1881
"Map shows the late nineteenth century Texas railroad system as shown in the Galveston News."
Maps of Dallas and Buffalo
"Map shows late nineteenth century Dallas, Texas street names, parks, railroads, street car lines, cemeteries, and some buildings."
City of Houston, Texas, 1884
"Map shows first, second, third, fourth, and fifth wards of Houston, Texas with street names, buildings, parks, churches, businesses, cemeteries, railroads, block numbers, lot numbers, and ownership."
Bird's eye view of San Antonio : Bexar Co. Texas 1886 looking north east
"Hand drawn aerial map of 1886 San Antonio showing streets, buildings, vegetation, and landmarks."
Map of Taylor County, Texas
"Survey map of Taylor County, Texas, along with advertisements and a description of Taylor County, published in a periodical. The map shows property lines, ownership, land grants, and plat numbers."
Galveston County
"Map shows land patents, block and tract numbers, landowners, towns, and railroads; portions of adjacent counties where property boundaries extend beyond county limits."
Videos
We provide videos for both continuing education and classroom use. Please see each video's descriptive page for related resources and details about accessibility and viewing options.
Preview of Cotton, Cattle, and Railroads
A short introductory video to the Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads Unit. Includes worksheets and/or other attachments.
Indian Wars and Cattle Drives
The rise of the cattle industry and conflicts with Indians in Texas, covering: Massive Immigration, Last of the Indian Wars, Post-War Cattle Markets, Rise of Cattle Drives.
Farmers in Rebellion
Texas near the end of the 19th century, including: The Problem of Cotton, The Grange, The Farmer’s Alliance, Rise of the Populists, Election of 1892.
Populism and Jim Crow
Populism and the Jim Crow era in Texas, covering: 1893 Populists on the Rise, he Fateful Election of 1896, Fall and Collapse of the Populists, Establishing Jim Crow Texas.
Cities and the Hurricane
The hurricane that hit Texas in 1900, covering Life in Texas by 1900, the Storm of 1900.
More Resources
The following list of resources provide additional information to help you dive deeper into the context of the unit. Books are linked to OCLC WorldCat, allowing you find a copy in your nearest local library or to make a request for it using interlibrary loan.
General
website Results for Cotton, Cattle, & Railroads in The Portal to Texas History