In which year was barbed wire, used widely for fencing land and livestock, first patented?

Introduction / Context:
Barbed wire is a simple but revolutionary invention that transformed agriculture and land management, especially in open range regions. By allowing inexpensive fencing of large areas, it changed farming practices and property boundaries. This question focuses on the year in which barbed wire was first patented as a specific industrial product.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The invention in question is barbed wire used for fencing.
• We are concerned with the year of the first successful patent.
• The options give several dates in the nineteenth century.
• We assume awareness that industrial barbed wire appeared in the later part of that century.

Concept / Approach:
The first commercially successful barbed wire patent is associated with the year 1874. Several inventors attempted different designs, but the widely recognised patent that spread the use of barbed wire and led to large scale manufacture dates from that year. To answer correctly, we align the known historical timeline of the American frontier and expansion of fenced ranches with the approximate date in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that barbed wire became famous in the context of late nineteenth century ranching in North America. Step 2: Among the given dates, the mid eighteen seventies match the period of rapid adoption of barbed wire fencing. Step 3: Historical references place the key barbed wire patent in 1874, which aligns with this time frame. Step 4: Therefore, the correct year of the original widely recognised barbed wire patent is 1874.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember that the American cattle ranching boom and the closing of the open range are events of the late eighteen seventies and eighteen eighties. Barbed wire patents had to exist slightly earlier to support this change. The date 1874 neatly precedes this period and is often quoted in general knowledge sources, which confirms that it is the most accurate choice among the options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 1898: This is too late, because barbed wire was already widely used by the eighteen eighties.
• 1868: Earlier experimental designs may have been considered, but the key successful patent is associated with 1874, not 1868.
• 1866: This is also too early for the main commercial patent and does not match standard references.
• 1904: By this time barbed wire was already common, so this cannot be the first patent year.

Common Pitfalls:
The most common issue is confusion between invention, patenting and widespread use. Some learners remember only that barbed wire became famous in the American West but do not connect it with a specific year. Others may guess a very late date because they associate barbed wire with twentieth century wars. To avoid such errors, link barbed wire to the transformation of ranching in the eighteen seventies and eighteen eighties, which points to the 1874 patent.

Final Answer:
Barbed wire was first successfully patented in the year 1874.