Cattle drives were long and difficult: cowboys spent months on the trail, helping cattle to reach their destination while looking out for many obstacles. Why were cowboys and ranchers eager to meet these challenges? What motivated them to use trails to drive herds north from Texas to Kansas? Explain your answer in a paragraph of no fewer than five sentences.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following motivation: The biggest factor motivating ranchers and cowboys was a chance to make a profit on selling their herds. Following the Civil War, Texas experienced a large surplus of cattle. This meant that prices were very low. However, ranchers realized that they could sell their cattle for much higher prices in railroad cities, where high demand would send these cattle to Eastern and Midwestern states. Cattle drives led thousands of livestock north to railroad towns, and ranchers made huge profits on these herds.

Explanation:

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