Final answer:
The Homestead Act of 1862 provided land to settlers for farming and eventual cattle ranching, while the Pacific Railway Act and the introduction of barbed wire transformed the cattle industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to make large amounts of land available to cattle ranchers in the West, the government passed the Homestead Act of 1862. This law encouraged Western migration by providing 160 acres of federal land to settlers west of the Mississippi River, under the condition that they "improve" the land by cultivating fields and building homes. While homesteading was the primary focus, these lands eventually provided opportunities for cattle ranching as the industry evolved. Additionally, policies like the Pacific Railway Act helped facilitate transportation and movement of goods, which was essential for the cattle industry. The advent of barbed wire in 1873 transformed cattle ranching by allowing ranchers to fence off their land, signaling the end of the open range and contributing to the rise of the modern cattle industry.