Out of everything that changed agriculture, the increasing economic difficulty was arguably the most powerful. With so many farms, the amount of produce rose while the prices of produce fell, in some cases, like with Cotton, prices fell over ⅛ of the original price (Doc A). Because of the extremely low prices, as low as 10 cents in some places, some farmers did not make enough to survive and promptly went out of business. Even with groups like the the Farmer's Alliance defending smaller farmers by pooling together resources and money in
The industrialization of America led to lots of new technology for farming being developed, which further drove farmers into debt. New plows and tools were created and although they made farming significantly easier, they were also very expensive. Farmers were forced to buy these tools by their landlords and they struggled to find cheaper ways to compete with larger farms. Unlike farmers earlier in the century, these farmers did not grow many crops, even for sustenance. Instead, they grew only a couple cash crops, which could bring a lot of money, but also could bring in none if there was a drought or other problem.
The farmer's husband's futile search for work in ten counties underscored the widespread economic difficulties that plagued farming communities across the country. This firsthand account of deprivation and despair exposes the harsh realities faced by farmers during this era of change, as they grapple with crop failures, economic hardships, and the stark realities of poverty and hunger. The farmer's poignant lament serves as a poignant reminder of the immense challenges and uncertainties that farmers navigate as they struggle to adapt to the new realities of American agriculture. (Document I) Amidst significant transformation in American agriculture, as technological advancements, government policies, and shifts in economic conditions reshaped the landscape of the farming industry, the excerpt from the document sheds light on the debates surrounding land use during the late 19th century.
The soil was rich, fertile and perfect for crops. The weather was relatively warm year-round and the land was screaming to be used for agriculture. There were rivers readily available for the transportation of any crops that the settlers might want to export. As a result of this near-perfect farm land, the Southern colonies developed into a region dominated by agriculture. Huge tobacco and crop plantations arose and suddenly, a massive need for labor arose.
Which the farmers were not making any expense, so they grew more crops than before, and that made things worse. In which it led farmers into a big debt and problems. One of them was the tariff policies during the Gilded Age. Farmers were the victims and were forced to buy manufactured goods to be protected by tariff legislation. But what they produce was not protective and more competitive markets soon to rise of over supplies and foreign competition.
During his time of need the main problem farmers had to deal with was the crash of their crops, and with that problem some of them lost their land. Once the prices fell on the crops farmers were no longer able to pay for the taxes on their famers so many of them had to close or sell their
This caused a new problem when the farmers could not pay back these loans and became bankrupt. The banks kicked farmers off of their land and forced onto the
This meant that the land owners were making money by doing nothing, and that the poorer farmers that could not afford their own land, could grow and sell their crops for cheaper. Sometimes the land
The farmers tried to produce more crops since prices fell but most were unsuccessful and lost their farms and many lost their houses too since they could not pay off their
Those who did move still struggled with things because farming was difficult but they did manage. Until, a drought came upon the middle of the nation. Many farmers had little to no money because they couldn’t work. As a result of the drought, the topsoil
People were living off of their crops, and suddenly their crops were damaged and destroyed. “Although records focus on
First, the amount of casualties in numerous wars, such as the Punic Wars in which 300,000 were estimated to have died, negatively impacted the number of Roman farmers. The farmers were known as the backbone of Rome at the time. Land reforms called latifundias started developing. These estates would buy out small farms and turn the free workers into slaves. These reforms became really popular because they
Most farmers struggled to make a living due to key issues. There was often a high tax on railroads which had cut a large profit from the farmers. The farmers had no other option other than the railroad since the farmers were often very far off westward in the Great Plains, while the market with a large population was still in eastern cities like New York. Likewise farmers had to pay a middle man in the East to sell their commodities in the East, because the poor farmers were unable to travel all the way to the East to sell their products then come back to start farming for the next year. Surprisingly, farmers were often detrimental to themselves due to
For example, small farmers depended on the local plantation aristocracy for access to cotton gins, markets for their modest crops and their livestock, and credit or other financial assistance in time of need. The great cotton economy allowed many small farmers to improve their economic fortunes. Some bought more land, some became slave owners, and some moved into the fringes of plantation society. A typical white southerner was a yeoman farmer, who was also known as “plain folk.” These farmers owned a few slaves, with whom they worked and lived more closely than the larger planters.
When the farmers they worked for lost their lands, they were left in a much more
