Final answer:
Miners and farmers in the west had conflicts due to competition for scarce resources like water and land, environmental impacts of mining, and competition for available land and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Miners and farmers had conflicts in the west because they both relied on the same scarce resources, such as water and land. In areas where gold or other valuable minerals were discovered, miners would rush in and stake their claims, often diverting water from nearby rivers or streams for their mining operations. This caused conflicts with farmers who depended on that water for irrigating their crops.
Furthermore, the mining activities often had negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, soil erosion, and contamination of water sources. This not only affected the immediate environment, but also disrupted the livelihoods of farmers in the surrounding areas.
Lastly, the influx of miners into a region would bring rapid population growth, leading to competition for available land and resources. This resulted in tensions between miners looking for potential mineral-rich lands and farmers who had already settled and cultivated the land for agricultural purposes.
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