You are here: DIME Home > Entertainment > Cowboys of the Wild West


Cowboys of the Wild West

Cowboys have became an American icon. They were hardworking farm hands who knew their way around a horse and could withstand the dangers of the trail. Over the years, the demand for cowboys waned and they became a thing of the past.

Author: Rebekah Brooks
Date: Jan 30, 2012 - 11:45:33 AM


Printer FriendlyPrinter friendly page

After the Civil War ended in 1865, many Confederate soldiers came home to destroyed homes and towns. With no jobs, homes or foreseeable future in the war-torn south, many of these soldiers went west seeking work on farms and ranches. Due to a newly expanded railroad, a product of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, it was easier than ever for these men to get there.

Cowboys weren't always white male Civil War veterans. Many were also immigrants, native Americans and former African-American slaves. Since many of these men already had experience with horses while in the U.S. Cavalry, on plantations or on the Indian territory, they found work easily but life as a cowboy in the wild west was hard. The work consisted of two annual cattle roundups in the fall and spring and long cattle drives to the nearest rail head where the cattle would be loaded onto trains and shipped across country.

While rounding up cattle, the cowboys had to collect, inspect, sort, brand and castrate the animals before heading to the market. The long cattle drives, which usually lasted about four months, consisted of grueling 14-hour-days with just a few hours of sleep each night. During the drives, the cowboys had to keep a constant watch on the cattle and prevent them from wandering away from the line. During the winter off season, these cowboys would often hire themselves out as ranch hands and spend their money on gambling, alcohol and prostitutes.

To protect themselves from the sun, heat and injury while in the saddle, these cowboys often wore clothing adopted from Mexican “buckaroos” such as bandanas, leather chaps, boots, gloves, collarless-shirts and large-brimmed hats. They also wore a type of pants, originally designed for mine workers by Levi Strauss, known as blue jeans.

While out on the trail, the cowboy diet consisted mostly of beans, bacon, black-eyed peas, corn, biscuits and beef as well as catfish and shrimp from the local rivers and waterways. Each drive had a cook and the food was prepared in the cook's chuck wagon, a portable kitchen wagon that carried food, a water barrel, eating utensils, linens, cooking utensils and folding counters for chopping ingredients.

The towns where rail heads were located soon came to be known as “cowtowns.” These towns, such as Dodge City, Kansas and Fort Worth, Texas, earned a bad reputation as rowdy cowboys would ride into town, deliver their cattle, get paid and hit the town ready to spend their hard earned money. Many cowtowns passed laws prohibiting cowboys from carrying guns into town and hired men like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson to enforce these laws and control the cowboys.

Cowboys didn't earn much money for their hard work, most averaged about $30 or $40 a month. The average age of most cowboys was 24 and it was rare to find a cowboy over 30. As a result of the hard work and low pay, most cowboys moved onto other work after a few years. By the 1880s, open range ranches gave way to fenced-in ranches, rendering cowboys obsolete.

Rebekah Brooks is a freelance writer and lover of history who got her start in journalism working for small-town newspapers such as the Salem News in Massachusetts and the Dover Community News in New Hampshire. Rebekah has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of New Hampshire.



View all articles by Rebekah Brooks

Link to this article:

Code to copy: <a href="http://www.dime-co.com/entertainment/Cowboys-of-the-Wild-West.shtml">Cowboys of the Wild West</a>




Related Articles...

Get the Best Deal or No Deal Online Experience

Jun 21, 2011 - 5:54:41 AM

There are people who watch the Deal or No Deal game on the TV and wish that they too can be part of the play. If you are one such person, then you need to know that your dream can come true. You can get to also win the huge jackpot that comes with the Deal or No Deal game.... [Read the full story]

LEGO Events in June at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Chicago

Jun 9, 2011 - 10:48:38 AM

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Chicago has some LEGOtastic events this June including a LEGO Cars 2 weekend to celebrate Fathers Day and LEGO Star Wars days towards the end of the month.... [Read the full story]

IHOP

Mar 1, 2011 - 3:56:52 PM

If you're in the mood for doing something to help eradicate Leukemia and Lymphoma, eat pancakes at IHOP today. There really are only two times when the food served at IHOP is morally acceptable to some people who spend their days rallying against processed food and their nights eating the equivalent of similarly fat food: 1) when they are drunk or 2) when free food is involved. Throw in a good charity like cancer and the place will be overflowing with philanthropists.... [Read the full story]

Party Supplies & Party Ideas

Feb 15, 2011 - 9:44:34 PM

Planning a party should not be a mammoth task, but unfortunately for most people it is a headache that should be avoided at all costs. From the moment the idea of a party is floated it is up to the organizer to come up with different themes for the party, in order for it to become a resounding success. The party could be as expensive or as cheap as the party planner has envisioned, but all in all it has got to be both fun and entertaining.... [Read the full story]


Newest Articles in Popular Topics:

Business & Marketing Computers & the Internet Entertainment Health & Fitness
Finding Ways To Save Money And Maximize Revenue In Business
Cooper's Golf Park Tees Off Their New Website
Fiinovation Adjudged CSR Team of the Year & Caring Company at World CSR Day
Reasons Why Kale Realty is the Best Real Estate Firm in All of Chicago
Montreal Tech Startup Kangaroo Rewards Launches Mobile Loyalty Program for Local Merchants
It is time we break out of the SEO Shelter
3 Strong Reasons You Should Start Your Own Blog
Evolve Your Career With CompTIA A+ Certification Exam
High speed VMware Backups - Powered by UltraBlaze(™) from Vembu
Things to Consider When Selecting a Domain Name for Your Website
Fling Boom "Launches" This Holiday Season
Beautiful Abstract Canvas Art is Up for Grabs
Buying Art as a Gift: Tips From an Expert
Complete Guide to the 2014 Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival Released by Jackson Mountain Homes
Learn Blues Music Online-Alternative to Traditional Piano Lessons
Causes and Treatment of Acne
What Type Of Constipation Home Remedies Are There?
Manual Wheelchairs: Buying One
Instant Facelift with Dental Implants
Lasik Surgery Leading Correction Of Vision Issues

Home & Family

Shopping

Sports

Travel
Enhance Your Learning Experience Through Best Responsive Elearning Development Tools
Best Apps for Learning German
Esvees is Cranbourne's Elite Hair Dressing Company
Ozone Generator
Practical Tips When Choosing Gates and Gate Openers for Your Home or Business
Why Cases are Required for Mobile Phones?
Are Dealership Services Worth It?
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Named Must-Shop SUV for Towing from AutoTrader.com
Online Selling With An Appraisal Advantage
Macsome AudioBook Converter released New Version V2.0.4
Aditi Ashok signs off with a double
Softball Coaching: Avoid Becoming A Nattering Nabob of Negativity
Softball Coaching Tips - The Funnel Approach
Pick Up Specialized Advice on Jumping Exercises Which Are Highly Effective
Vertical Jump Training Tactics to Increase Your Athletic Performance
Tips for Choosing the Right Paris Short Lets
Hostels - the best choice for working womens and college students
Perfect holiday? Book a cruise and sail in Croatia!
Say Aloha to Your Best Vacation Ever with Kohala Coast Properties
The Perfect Guide for a Fantastic Family Trip to Kansas City

 



Follow & Share Your Favorite Video Articles

Tell a Friend About This Site



Chamber of Commerce - on the Web logo



Subscribe to the eMarket SmartsTM Newsletter in order to keep up to date with what's happening with dime-co.com, get the emails on new video articles, featured articles, and more. Your privacy is always protected. We never rent, sell or trade your private information

:
:

Service provided by GetResponse Autoresponders


Recommended Associates


Latest Articles in All Categories


Putting Up a Small Commercial Printing Business
So You Might Be Unemployed And Desire To Become A San Francisco Real Estate Investor Now
Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion
CPA Websites: Five Essential Ideas for Composing Convincing Articles
Set Goals In Order to Come Up With Your Action Plan
Is the Air in Your Home Safe to Breathe?
Coarse Fishing Tackle Review: The JW Young 13ft Trotter Rod
Section 1031 Exchanges For San Diego Real Estate Investors
Phoenix Real Estate Investing For Highest Possible Earnings
Legendary are the Volk Racing TE37 Wheels
Developing the Next Generation Wall Station (ChaseDesk™) for Healthcare - A Case Study
What are step down transformers?
Introducing Sharehype, the Revolutionary Tool for Online Marketers
Rewards To Shopping For Austin Real Estate On The Web
Hydroponics for Beginners



Do you write?

Would you like submit your articles and have them approved on a priority status? Find out more about how you can become a Priority author for pennies a day! Click here.

Dime-co.com Home
  • Business (9328)
  • Computers & The Internet (5740)
  • Entertainment (1348)
  • Family (958)
  • Finance (1963)
  • Health (4246)
  • Home and Living (6670)
  • Marketing (6113)
  • Shopping & Product Reviews (2624)
  • Sports (694)
  • Travel and Vacations (1689)
  • Video Articles (1)
  • Editors Pick (1)