Final answer:
Anglo ranchers in San Miguel County formed the vigilante group Las Gorras Blancas to oppose the fencing of open grazing lands. The group cut fences at night to maintain access to water and grass for their herds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Anglo ranchers in San Miguel County, New Mexico, formed a vigilante group known as Las Gorras Blancas to oppose the fencing of lands that had traditionally been open for grazing. The group, known as the 'white caps,' cut fences at night to maintain access to water and grass for their herds. They used guerrilla tactics to intimidate property owners who had claimed the most valuable lands of the Southwest.