... late 1800's were a time of great expansion and growth for the U.S. The Central Pacific railroad moved east and the Union Pacific moved west through the plains. Joseph McCoy of Springfield, IL devised a plan to take cattle out of Texas and take them to western towns. From there, he would ship them by rail to packing factories in the East. After a long ... and Judge Roy Bean were gamblers with a side career as a vigilante, a word which here means "a self-styled dispenser of justice."" One well-known lawman was Wild Bill Hickock of Homer, IL. Hickock never had a career as a cowboy; he perf...

• Word Count: 976
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... late 1800's were a time of great expansion and growth for the U.S. The Central Pacific railroad moved east and the Union Pacific moved west through the plains. Joseph McCoy of Springfield, IL devised a plan to take cattle out of Texas and take them to western towns. From there, he would ship them by rail to packing factories in the East. After a long ... and Judge Roy Bean were gamblers with a side career as a vigilante, a word which here means "a self-styled dispenser of justice."" One well-known lawman was Wild Bill Hickock of Homer, IL. Hickock never had a career as a cowboy; he perf...

• Word Count: 959
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School