How did the invention of barbed wire change the West?
Barbed wire fences supported the development of small-scale farming in the West to the detriment of open ranges preferred by cattle ranchers. In 1868, American inventor Michael Kelly patented barbed wire, fencing made of steel wires that are twisted together into sharp, thornlike points. Others improved on Kelly’s design and developed machines to manufacture barbed wire. In 1874 American businessman Joseph Glidden (1813–1906) began to sell barbed wire from a plant in DeKalb, Illinois. Kelly was inspired to create his invention because few trees grow on the Great Plains and farmers could not build wooden fences. Instead they planted prickly shrubs to mark the boundaries of their land and to keep livestock on their property. But because this method was not particularly effective, ranchers became accustomed to letting their livestock roam the open…
