1892: The Johnson County War | GCSE History Revision | The American West

Summary

The Johnson County War of 1892 was a violent and pivotal conflict in Wyoming between wealthy cattlemen and small ranchers. Triggered by accusations of cattle rustling and exacerbated by harsh winters and land disputes, tensions escalated as large ranchers sought to eliminate their rivals using hired gunmen. Despite being heavily armed and backed by political and financial power, the wealthy cattlemen’s invasion was met with fierce resistance from local citizens and law enforcement. The war is notable for its use of vigilante justice, legal manipulation, and the shifting dynamics of power and land control in the American West.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Wyoming Territory had only 9,000 U.S. citizens in 1870, with most land owned by the government.
• 😀 The Union Pacific Railroad’s arrival in the late 1860s boosted cattle ranching, with large ranches backed by wealthy investors, including many British.
• 😀 By the 1870s, cattlemen dominated the region, with many appointed to key government and judiciary positions.
• 😀 The harsh winter of 1886-87 devastated large cattle herds, weakening wealthy ranchers and increasing tensions with smaller ranchers.
• 😀 Small ranchers, who survived the winter better, were accused of rustling cattle by large ranchers, leading to increasing conflict.
• 😀 In 1889, Jim Averill and Ella Watson were lynched by cattleman Albert Bothwell after being accused of rustling, despite having legal claims to their land.
• 😀 The Johnson County War in 1892 was a direct result of tensions between small ranchers and wealthy cattlemen, who were backed by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA).
• 😀 The WSGA raised $100,000 to hire 22 gunmen, who were paid a bonus for each rustler killed during their planned invasion of Johnson County.
• 😀 The gunmen failed in their mission and instead attacked the KC Ranch, killing rancher Nate Champion after a lengthy standoff.
• 😀 Sheriff Angus and 40 local men from Johnson County, joined by citizens from Buffalo, surrounded the invaders at TA Ranch until they were saved by U.S. cavalry.
• 😀 The trial following the war was heavily influenced by political and legal power, with wealthy cattlemen using their resources to avoid conviction, highlighting the lack of justice for small ranchers.

Q & A

What was the population of the Wyoming territory in 1870?

In 1870, there were only 9,000 US citizens in the entire Wyoming territory.

How did the Union Pacific Railroad influence the Wyoming territory in the late 1860s?

The Union Pacific Railroad crossed the southern part of Wyoming in the late 1860s, leading to the development of massive cattle ranches throughout the 1870s.

Why did the big ranchers' power decrease in the winter of 1886-1887?

The harsh winter of 1886-1887 caused significant losses to the herds of big cattlemen, weakening their power and influence, while small ranchers fared better.

What triggered the conflict between small ranchers and big cattlemen in the late 1880s?

Big cattlemen believed that small ranchers had stolen their cows, which led to a growing conflict, culminating in the violent events of the Johnson County War.

What happened to Jim Averill and Ella Watson in 1889?

Jim Averill and Ella Watson, small ranchers, were lynched by cattleman Albert Bothwell and his men after Bothwell accused them of rustling his cows.

What was the response of small ranchers to the growing influence of big cattlemen?

In 1892, small ranchers and homesteaders formed their own association and decided to hold their own round-up, hoping to claim unbranded calves before the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) did.

How did the WSGA plan to deal with the rising tension in Johnson County in 1892?

The WSGA planned a full-scale invasion of Johnson County, hiring gunmen and raising $100,000 to eliminate the small ranchers they viewed as a threat.

Why did the WSGA's invasion of Johnson County fail?

The invasion failed because the gunmen, despite being well-armed and supplied, were unable to achieve their mission, and the attack on KC Ranch ended with Nate Champion being shot after a long standoff.

How did the citizens of Johnson County respond to the WSGA's invasion?

Sheriff Angus of Johnson County raised a force of 40 men, and outraged citizens from Buffalo, the county seat, joined to fight the invaders, eventually surrounding them at the TA Ranch.

What role did the US military play in the Johnson County War?

The US 6th Cavalry intervened, rescuing the invaders from the citizens of Johnson County, who were ready to take further action against them.

What was the outcome of the trial after the Johnson County War?

Despite overwhelming public support for the citizens of Johnson County, the trial was moved to Cheyenne, where the wealthy cattlemen had more favorable support. The WSGA’s lawyers prolonged the trial until the prosecution ran out of funds, and the charges were eventually dropped.

How did the end of the open range impact the tensions between ranchers?

When farmers fenced off their land, bringing an end to the open range, tensions between ranchers calmed, effectively ending the range wars.