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After the Civil War, Americans turned their attention to the West, a vast wilderness extending from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains. The government granted land to private individuals through the Homestead Act of 1862, leading to a surge in settlement. However, settlers faced a significant obstacle: the lack of fencing material to protect their crops from animals. They tried using Osage orange hedges and plain wire, but these proved ineffective. Joseph F. Glidden, a farmer, improved upon Henry M. Rose's invention of barbed wire, creating a more practical and effective solution. Glidden's barbed wire was initially met with skepticism, but its effectiveness was eventually demonstrated, and production increased dramatically. Despite its success, barbed wire faced resistance from cattlemen, who saw it as a threat to their way of life and livelihoods. The conflict escalated into "fence wars," with cattlemen cutting down fences and rustlers taking advantage of the situation. The Texas government eventually made fence cutting a felony, bringing some stability to the region.