Cowtowns Vs Cowboys

293 Words2 Pages
The West was a beacon for many in the 19th and 20th centuries. It represented opportunity and the promise of wealth and success. Cattle drives, cowboys, and cowtowns are an important part of that legacy. The cry “Go west, young man!” was an inspiration for many to risk it all. Cattle drives got started because the Texas ranchers needed a way to ship their cattle to the north. So they drove cattle to shipping points in Kansas. These drives give us an image of what the western life must have been like. Work hard, eat, sleep, and gamble at the saloons. This attitude inspired cowboys to risk everything. These cowboys had to be tough, able to withstand all that Mother Nature threw at them. They also needed a work ethic and patience, cattle can