Background to the Conflict

Wyoming, with its small population of 9,000 and large areas of public land soon became under the control of wealth Cattle Barons who bought large areas of land. By the 1870's, Wyoming was effectively under their control.

Harsh winters caused large losses to the cattle herd on ranches in Wyoming, many ranchers went bankrupt which meant they lost wealth and power. Samll ranches did better, causing the large ranchers to accuse them of stealing their cattle.

Wyoming's population began to increase as Homesteaders and smaller ranches moved in, by 1884 10,000 acres had beed homesteaded. The big ranchers were unhappy with the barbed wire fences that were put up, thinking they would hurt the cattle.

Watson and Averill were homesteaders who claimed 640 acres that were currently being used by Albert Bothwell's cattle for grazing. They openly disliked each other. Watson got her own small herd of cows, Bothwell accused her of cattle rustling. In 1889, Bothwell and his men hanged Watson and Averill and then taking their land. No-one was prosecuted, and over the next few months, 3 small ranch owners were also killed.

As a result of the killing of Ella Watson and Jim Averill, the small ranchers announced they would hold an early spring round up of cattle earlier that the big ranchers.

WSGA - Wyoming Stock Growers Association

The WGSA ranchers were suspicious that the small ranchers would use this round up to steal more cattle form them.