Final answer:
Joseph Glidden was an inventor and farmer who created barbed wire in 1873, profoundly changing agricultural practices and land use in the American West, leading to the end of the open range.
Step-by-step explanation:
Joseph Glidden was an American farmer who is credited with the invention of barbed wire in 1873. His invention revolutionized the agricultural industry and played a significant role in the transformation of the American West. Barbed wire provided a cheap, effective means of controlling livestock, which greatly influenced the way land was used and led to the end of the open range system. By introducing a way to easily and economically fence large areas of land, Glidden’s invention allowed for more efficient farming and ranching practices. This innovation made him a wealthy man and had lasting impacts on agricultural and societal development in the United States, contributing to the era of Westward Expansion.