Range War - GCSE History Definition

A Range War refers to conflicts that occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily in the American West, between different groups over land and water rights. These disputes often involved farmers, known as homesteaders, and ranchers who were competing for the same land to graze their animals or grow crops. Homesteaders used fences to protect their farms, which blocked the open range needed by ranchers for their cattle. These disagreements sometimes turned violent, causing damage to property and leading to clashes between the groups. Range Wars highlight the challenges of land ownership and resource use during the westward expansion and settlement of new territories.