The Farming Industry of Texas After the Civil War. Suggested Instructional Activity: Bow Tie Strategy

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1 The Farming Industry of Texas After the Civil War Suggested Instructional Activity: Bow Tie Strategy Questions/prompts for students to consider as they read each document: What changes occurred in the agricultural industry? What factors impacted farmers? What title would you give this reading passage? Possible statements for groups to respond to as they put it all together in the center bubble: What environmental factors impacted the farming industry in Texas after the Civil War? What technological innovations impacted the farming industry in Texas after the Civil War? How did the farming industry impact the development of Texas?

2 #1: After the Civil War, settlers moved ever farther west in search of more farmland. The continued development of railroads encouraged settlement in the Panhandle and West Texas. Westward settlements meant that the frontier as a place of free, open range was closing. Farmers who settled East Texas earlier in the 1800s had the advantage of a relatively moist climate that could support a variety of crops. In addition, their land had good access to rivers and streams. By contrast, farmers who settled in the Panhandle and West Texas found the rainfall there did not provide enough water for many types of crops. The prospect of cheap and plentiful land, however, persuaded farmers to use different ways to farm.

3 #2: The expansion of railroads played a major role in supporting farmers. A single, heavy bale of cotton could take weeks to transport by ox and cart. Railroads reduced the cost of shipping by up to 75 percent and could transport tons of crops across the state in a single day. Windmills were adopted in the late 1800s by farmers planting in drier areas of Texas. Wind turned the wheel, which generated power to pump water from the ground. This helped West Texas farmers overcome the lack of rivers and streams and the dry climate. Another important innovation was the steel plow, which was stronger than the traditional iron plow. This allowed farmer to more easily break up the tough Texas soil.

4 #3: After the Civil War, cotton production increased in Texas. In 1879 farmers produced over 800,000 bales of cotton. By 1900, the number of bales produced in Texas rose to 3.5 million. A number of factors led to the growth of the cotton industry. The removal of Native Americans to reservations from the Plains opened the land for settlers. The introduction of barbed-wire fencing protected cotton fields from cattle. The expansion of railways within Texas helped cotton farmers ship their product to market. Finally, the invention of the telegraph in the mid-1800s allowed for quick communication over long distances, which helped to speed cotton sales.

5 #4: Despite these challenges, farming remained the dominant industry in Texas. The landscape of the western frontier of the state shifted from open grasslands to farms and ranches. Along with that shift, the population of Texas boomed. In 1860 the population of Texas was a little over 600,000. By 1900, the state s population had multiplied five times, and Texas had about 3 million people. Increased farming led to the development of many small towns in Texas, most close to railroad lines. These growing communities furthered the transformation of Texas from a frontier to a settled land of schools, churches, roads, and businesses.