Texes Social Studies Content Practice Exam

What was the main reason cattle drives began to decline in Texas?

1. Too many cowboys were arrested for illegal activities

2. Easier access to rail lines and refrigerated rail cars

3. An outbreak of Texas Fever that attacked cattle

4. The invention of the barbed wire fence that closed the open range

The correct answer is: Easier access to rail lines and refrigerated rail cars

The decline of cattle drives in Texas can primarily be attributed to the development of the railroad system, particularly with improvements in rail lines and the advent of refrigerated rail cars. This technological advancement allowed for cattle to be transported more efficiently and effectively from ranches to markets without the need for long, dangerous drives. As railroads expanded across Texas, ranchers could ship their cattle directly to meatpacking facilities, streamlining the entire process. This reduced the reliance on traditional cattle drives, which were labor-intensive and time-consuming as they involved moving large herds over vast distances. While factors such as illegal activities among cowboys and diseases like Texas Fever did have some impact on the cattle industry, they were not the primary reasons for the decline of cattle drives. Likewise, the invention of barbed wire certainly changed ranching practices and contributed to the end of the open range, but the most significant shift was the modernization of cattle transportation through railroads, which transformed how cattle were moved to market.