How did the fight for land and resources unfold in the american west? what was the role of the railroads and how did they affect western settlement?

It made the west part of the united states

Explanation:

Independence movements separating states from mexico eventually led to the US taking over.

The Homestead Act of 1862 promised free land to citizens or prospective citizens. Hundreds of thousands moved west in hopes of striking gold, and to exploit natural resources and labor. Cattle ranchers followed railroads to establish grazing kingdoms. Agriculture became a big business because of the railroads. Agricultural land became commercialized. Western governors were corrupt or turned a blind eye to corruption which allowed mine owners, big ranchers, and lumber companies to take advantage of risky opportunities in the West. They allowed goods produced in the west, especially agricultural products like wheat, to be shipped to eastern markets, while also allowing eastern settlers to quickly move into unsettled lands in the west. As such, more settlers out west farming more land and sending farm products eastward caused more people to move west and more development of land out west. Additionally, western railroads allowed other natural resources to be mined in the West and shipped back to the factories in the east, including lead from the Colorado mines and silver from mines from Nevada. Products were transported across the continent in a shorter time frame.

Explanation: