The West Essay examples

Submitted By supman54321
Words: 551
Pages: 3

Between the years 1870 and 1900, the West was going through dramatic changes as it was colonized by Americans. Many people saw the West as an opportunity to stake their claim in America. The idea of freedom and a new beginning attracted many people as they had nothing to lose. Many factors played into the development of the West, especially the introduction of barbed wire, building of the railroads, and the end of the Indian Wars. The introduction of barbed wire helped influence the development in the West. Barbed wire was invented by Joseph H. Glidden and allowed farmers to cheaply enclose their land and protect their claims. Prior to barbed wire, fencing was a large problem. The cost of enclosing their claims was too expensive for the farmers, but it was a necessity to protect their land from the open range cattle. It advanced farming in the West and also increased profits as farmers did not have to worry about cattle, predators, or thieves. Stone and wood fences were also expensive and ineffective. The invention of barbed wire was the cheapest, most effective, and allowed huge advancements that furthered the ability of the working class in the West. The building of railroads impacted the West’s development because it connected the Western states to the East. The railroads made it easier and faster for farmers to get their crops and livestock to the market. Before railroads were constructed, goods were shipped in wagons that would usually take many months to get across. This led to more goods being were being traded between the East and West in shorter amounts of time, which boosted the West’s economy. For many people, the strenuous journey to migrate out west stopped them to do so, but once the railroad was constructed, it encouraged people to move to the West because it was a lot more efficient than taking a wagon. This populated the West and meant better economy growth. Increased settlers in the West allowed the frontier to come together and develop tremendously. The end of the Indian Wars was