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