The end of the open range and large cattle drives in the West was primarily brought about by the invention of barbed wire. Barbed wire allowed ranchers to enclose their land, which made it difficult for cattle drives and open-range grazing to continue as they had before. The use of barbed wire, along with other factors such as changes in farming and ranching practices and the expansion of railroads, contributed to the decline of the open range system. However, barbed wire was one of the key innovations that directly impacted the ability to drive cattle across vast, unfenced lands.
Which of the following brought about the end of the open range and large cattle drives in the West?
Question 20 options:
Invention of the barbed wire
Railroads
Bessemer process
Urbanization
1 answer