Post on 17-Jan-2016
transcript
Westward Westward ExpansionExpansion
The Western FrontierThe Western FrontierIn 1860, the Texas population was 600,000
By 1900, more than three million people lived in the state
Many Texans hoped to make their fortunes in the unsettled lands
After the Frontier Wars, Texans moved west in large numbers
The Western FrontierThe Western FrontierUsed the idea of “manifest destiny” to justify forcing Indians off the land
In 1870, Texas only had 583 miles of railroad track
By 1900, there were 10,000 miles of railroad in Texas
Railroads in Texasended the cattle
drives
The Western FrontierThe Western Frontier
Closing the FrontierClosing the FrontierIn 1874, Joseph Glidden acquired a patent for a popular design of barbed wire
The metal wire was light, strong, and cheap
Texans bought five tons of barbed wire in 1874
Six years later, they bought 40,000 tons
Barbed wire changed Texas forever!
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier
Closing the FrontierClosing the FrontierIn the 1880s, ranchers used barbed wire across Texas to protect their cattle
Some fences blocked roads and interfered with mail delivery
Within the enclosures, fenced-in areas, they controlled the breeding of animals
Farmers put up fences to protect cropsThe open range in Texas ceased to exist – it had been “fenced in”!
It ended cattle drives
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier
Closing the FrontierClosing the FrontierLandless cattle owners resorted to cutting fences
A newspaper reported in 1883 that fence cutting occurred in half of the state’s counties
War erupted on the Texas range again!
It was called the Fence Cutting WarsFence cutters threatened ranchers and burned their pastures, causing up to $20 million in damage
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier
Closing the FrontierClosing the FrontierIn 1884, Texas passed a law making it a felony to cut a fence
A felony is a serious crime that usually results in a jail sentence
The Texas Rangers went undercover to catch fence cutters
One Ranger even set traps with dynamite – trap exploded if wire was cut
The Rangers brought an end to fence cutting wars by 1900
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier“I have only one more chance with any hopes of stopping fence-cutting in this section and that is with my dynamite boom as I call it…I will have my boom set and when the fence is cut, why they will hear of it in Austin…it will scare them so bad that they will never cut another fence…Don’t be uneasy about my actions for I will use the greatest precaution with my booms and see that no innocent men gets hurt with them…however, if I get blowed up, you will know I was doing a good cause.”
Ira Aten, Texas Ranger, 1888
Closing the FrontierClosing the Frontier
Ira Aten, Texas Ranger
End of the Texas FrontierEnd of the Texas FrontierBy the end of the 1880s, the frontier in Texas had disappeared
Native Americans no longer hunted buffalo on the plains
Cowboys no longer drove cattle northRailroads, telegraph wires, and fences crossed West Texas
An era had ended but…The legacy of the frontier left a lasting mark on America and its culture
QuizQuizWhy were enclosures so important to ranchers?A. Enclosures helped protect their cropsB. Enclosures helped them get their cattle to marketC. Enclosures allowed them to control the breeding of their animalsD. Enclosures made sure everyone had access to water
What is a felony?A. a minor crime that usually results in a fineB. a serious crime that usually results in a fineC. a serious crime that is usually dismissed by a judgeD. a serious crime that usually results in a jail sentence
Texas RangersTexas Rangers
John Armstrong spotted John Wesley Hardin sitting in the train car. Hardin was one of the most feared gunmen in the West. He had killed more than 30 men. Seated next to Hardin were four members of his gang. Armstrong drew his Colt 45 revolver and slowly walked down the aisle. The Texas Ranger commanded Hardin and his gang to surrender. Hardin recognized Armstrong’s weapon as a favorite of the Rangers. He exclaimed, “Texas, by God” and reached for his own gun. One of his gang members fired at Armstrong, knocking off his hat. The Ranger killed him with a single shot. Hardin then kicked Armstrong. The Ranger struck Hardin over the head with his revolver, knocking him out. Armstrong then disarmed the other gang members.
John ArmstrongTexas Ranger
John Wesley Hardin
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationIn 1823, Stephen F. Austin (SFA) raised a small force of experienced frontiersmen as Rangers
Their job was to protect the settlers against Indian raids and Mexican attacks
In 1835, Texas lawmakers formally organized the Texas Rangers to better protect frontier
They served as a special police force and as a military unit
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ Organization
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationTexas Rangers consisted of 56 men organized into 3 companies
A major led each company, enlisted recruits and enforced the rules
He reported to the commander of the regular Texas army
Officers were paid $1.25/day – same as a dragoon in U. S. army
Dragoon – mounted soldier
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
Few family ties
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
Few family ties
Often retired by age 30
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Skilled horsemen
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
Few family ties
Often retired by age 30
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Skilled horsemen
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Developed expert marksmanship
Supplied their own equipment
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
Few family ties
Often retired by age 30
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ OrganizationCharacteristics Skills
Young, single men
Skilled horsemen
Refused to wear standard uniforms
Developed expert marksmanship
Supplied their own equipment
Developed excellent tracking skills
Provided own horse
Supplied own gun
Few family ties
Often retired by age 30
The Rangers’ OrganizationThe Rangers’ Organization
Texas Rangers
Rangers in ActionRangers in ActionTexas Rangers saw little action in Texas Revolution
They served as scouts and messengers
Under President Lamar, the Rangers played a key role in removing Native Americans from East Texas in 1839
They helped U.S. forces win against Mexican guerilla fighters in the Mexican War in 1847
Guerillas – soldiers not part of regular army
True Value of the RangersTrue Value of the RangersTexas Rangers joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War
The defense of the frontier was weakened during this time
Rangers fought 21 Indian battlesThey transported prisoners, collected taxes and dealt with 3,000 desperados – reckless, bold outlaws
In 1901, the government cut their size to only 4 companies with 20 men each
The Value of the RangersThe Value of the Rangers
QuizQuizThe purpose of the Texas Rangers was to…A. help ranchers enclose their pasturesB. make baseball more popular in the late 1800sC. establish law and order in lawless areas of TexasD. demonstrate Texas pride by showing off their horse riding skills
Who were the Mexicans referring to when they spoke of “los diablos Tejanos”?A. guerilla fightersB. cattle rustlersC. desperadosD. Texas Rangers