Final answer:
Anglo cattle ranchers became interested in moving to New Mexico with the arrival of the railroad in 1879, which facilitated profitable cattle transportation. Cultural and land use conflicts ensued, leading to the creation of Las Gorras Blancas, opposing Anglo settlement practices. The cattle industry and resulting transformations played a pivotal role in reshaping the social and economic landscape of the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anglo cattle ranchers showed interest in moving to New Mexico in the late 19th century, after the railroad reached northwest New Mexico in 1879. This development sparked a clash between traditional communal land use and the private property system brought by the Anglo settlers. Cattle ranchers took advantage of the railroad to transport cattle to eastern markets, which became highly profitable. Conflicts arose as ranchers claimed valuable lands and restricted access to natural resources, leading to the formation of a vigilante group, Las Gorras Blancas, which sought to protect communal grazing rights against Anglo settlement.
By the late 1880s, the vigilante group Las Gorras Blancas opposed the fencing of lands and the subsequent inability to access water and grass for their herds. The group was formed to resist the pattern of Anglo settlement that was transforming the region, signifying deep-seated tensions and cultural clashes between the two groups.
As the cattle industry continued to grow, many cowboys, including those of Hispanic or African American descent, worked in the expanding ranching industry. The significant movement of Anglo ranchers to the southwest, aided by the completion of railroad lines, resulted in land speculations and changes in land ownership patterns, which profoundly affected local Hispanic and Native American populations.