The "farmers' frontier" signifies the century where large population of farmers began to develop their own sense of identities and express their attitude. This new attitude sets the stage which sprang from the increasing discontent of political affairs. The late 1800s, revolved around advancement in technology which benefitted mostly the industries. As the manufacturers increase vastly during this period, the population of farmers hit a decline. The result of this decline in agriculture, forced an obstacle upon the farmers. With numerous problematic issues, the farmers struggled to sustain a stable living. Agitation amplified the tension which become the leading factor that guided the farmers' discontent. The desire for systematic reforms through …show more content…
The corruption within its system brought forth new perspectives, viewed by the farmers, showing government's action harming the agricultural economy. For example, railroad companies' inflated rates were a burden for the farmers who are trying to recover back from this "agricultural depression". In order to retaliate back in to the market, the farmers were forced to pay this "exorbitant rate of interest" (Doc. F). Farmers turned toward the government in hope to control the inflated fee. They feel it is in the government's responsibility to protect "the great common people" against corruption of the "monopoly" (Doc. C). In response, the Interstate Commerce Commission was established to overlook the railroad companies. It ensured that railroad companies would openly post their rates. However, this organization wasn't strongly enforced and proved to be ineffective, which farther frustrated the general …show more content…
It's purpose was to break free from the "monopoly" of the railroads and manufacturers. In the beginning, Farmers’ Alliance impacted the political realm as it organized farmers to express their views and ideas (Doc. F). Before the formation of this organization, the farmers could not held on tightly together, thus was too weak to influence political issues. Now acting by the mass of people the government are forced to recognize their farmers' plight. The Alliance later emerged as a political force called the Populists party. They targeted at Wall Street and the “money trust” issue. They called for a "free and unlimited coinage of silver", by this plan it will gradually increase inflation and decrease the value of their
From the expanding of railroads country wide, to limiting laws on the goods farmers sold and transportation of the goods,to starvation of the economy, agriculture began to take its own shape from 1865 through to 1900 in the United States.
High prices forced farmers to concentrate on one crop. The large-scale farmers bought expensive machines, increasing their crop yield. This caused the smaller farmers to be left behind. The small farmers could no longer compete and were forced give up their farms and look for jobs in the cities. The smaller farmers who stayed blamed their troubles on banks and railroads. In the 1890’s western and southern farmers came together to make up the political party called the Populist Party. Their plan was to take control of the White House; then they could solve all their problems.
The high tariffs, decentralization of currency, and decreasing crop prices were hurting the farmers. Founded by James B Weaver and Tom Watson, they wanted the government to have stronger control over banking and industries. Populism pursued limited coinage of silver and adjusted income tax so the wealthy would be paying more than the poor. They wanted free coinage of silver because this would eventually help the farmers pay off their debts. Parallel, they wanted the government to have control over railroads, telephone and telegraph systems.
...er party being formed, the populist party. This party had the belief that cities depended on farms, yet farms did not depend on cities. William Jennings Brian supported this idea in his speech, quoted on document J. In which elaborates on the opposition on gold standards and support the silver standards that would better benefit farmers.
The growth of the railroad was one of the most significant components in economic growth. However, the railroads hurt small shippers and farmers. Competition between railroad companies required some way to win business. Many railroads offered rebates and drawbacks to larger shippers who used their railroads. However, this practice hurt smaller shippers, including farmers, for often times railroad companies would charge more to ship products short distances. The freight rates were a burden on the farmers (Doc F). So the farmers grouped together forming National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry to protest these outrageous rates. Even though the farmers felt protesting the rates was a benefit for them it was actually a benefit fo...
Nevertheless, this social injustice was the reason that leads to the farmers’ Revolt, seeking to remedy their condition. In the late 1870s, an alliance has been founded in forty-three states that afterwards developed into a political party the populists. The party’s goal was to replace the democrats (capitalists) as the nation’s second party and being able to return the stolen privileges and rights of the poor producing class. By 1892 the party issued a document called the platform. It addressed the farmers’ nation and their conditions. Also, it “put forth a long list of proposals to restore democracy and economic opportunity”(Foner, 2013,p.642) and to create the social conditions of freedom.
During the latter part of the 19th century, many laborers faced numerous problems. Some of these problems included, “mechanization of industry, emergence of giant corporations, nationalization of labor, public sentiment greatly admired the ‘Captains of Industry,’ and immigration” (Farless). After years of knowledge, man was introduced to machines. When machines played a part in the latter part of the 19th century, it caused trouble with the laborers. These new machines would replace laborers, which meant more laborers were remaining unemployed and that there were lower wages (Farless). Another problem laborers faced were the introduction to immigrants. Immigrants were coming to the United States of America from foreign land to work. With these immigrants, it kept the wages low because the immigrants were new inexpensive labor (Farless).
The National Farmers’ Union better known as NFU was founded in Point, Texas in 1902. It was founded by grassroot farmers who were concerned about profitability issues and monopolistic practices. The National Farmers’ Union has been working ever since 1902 to “protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family, farmers, ranchers, fishermen, consumers, and rural communities through education, cooperation and legislation” (NFU: A Rich History). In this organization NFU is represented by farmers and ranchers in 33 different states. Below are all 50 states, the brown states are eligible for you to join as a member of the national organization which is $60.00, while the states that are green there is no formal state organization,
...wanted to merge with the Democrats, who had begun to incorporate the farmer's message into their own. They believed that in America's winner-take-all political system, there was no chance for a third party to make significant gains. The other side consisted of purists who did not want to let the Democrats distort the original goals of the Omaha Platform.
Farmers everywhere in the United States during the late nineteenth century had valid reasons to complaint against the economy because the farmers were constantly being taken advantage of by the railroad companies and banks. All farmers faced similar problems and for one thing, farmers were starting to become a minority within the American society. In the late nineteenth century, industrialization was in the spotlight creating big businesses and capitals. The success of industrialization put agriculture and farmers on the down low, allowing the corporations to overtake the farmers. Since the government itself; such as the Republican Party was also pro-business during this time, they could have cared less about the farmers.
The farmers feared that Eastern industrialists and bankers were gaining too much influence, power and control over the government. During the “bust” cycle, and times of difficulties, farmers got together, talked about their problems and formed the Populist Party. The Populists were formed because of challenges and difficulties in which they were forced to deal with every day. These challenges included crop failures, falling prices, and the inability to pay loans. The Populists party called for reform by wanting the government to intervene and lessen the impact of economic depressions, regu...
Most of the reasons concerning agrarian discontent in the late nineteenth century stem from supposed threats posed by monopolies and trusts, railroads, money shortages and the demonetization of silver, though in many cases their complaints were not valid. The American farmer at this time already had his fair share of problems, perhaps even perceived as unfair in regards to the success industrialized businessmen were experiencing. Nevertheless, crops such as cotton and wheat, which were once the staples of an agricultural society, were selling at such low prices that it was nearly impossible for farmers to make a profit off them, especially since some had invested a great deal of money in modern equipment that would allow them to produce twice as many goods. Furthermore, improvements in transportation allowed foreign competition to emerge, making it harder for American Farmers to not only dispose of surplus crop, but to transport crops period. Finally, years of drought in the Midwest and the degeneration of business in the 1890's devastated many of the nation's farmers, and as a result of this agricultural depression' many farm groups, most notably the Populist Party, arose to fight what farmers saw as the reasons for the decline of agriculture.
Sitting in the back seat between two towering piles of clothes and snacks we drive up the abandoned streets of Adell. I see vast open fields of corn and dense wooded forest filled with life, along with the occasional, towering grain house. We pull into a dry, dusty, driveway of rock and thriving, overgrown weeds. We come up to an aged log cabin with a massive crab apple tree with its sharp thorns like claws. The ancient weeping willow provides, with is huge sagging arms, shade from the intense rays of the sun. Near the back of the house there is a rotten, wobbly dock slowly rotting in the dark blue, cool water. Near that we store our old rusted canoes, to which the desperate frogs hop for shelter. When I venture out to the water I feel the thick gooey mud squish through my toes and the fish mindlessly try to escape but instead swim into my legs. On the lively river banks I see great blue herring and there attempt to catch a fish for their dinner. They gracefully fly with their beautiful wings arching in the sun to silvery points.
Agriculture has changed dramatically, especially since the end of World War II. Food and fibre productivity rose due to new technologies, mechanization, increased chemical use, specialization and government policies that favoured maximizing production. These changes allowed fewer farmers with reduced labour demands to produce the majority of the food and fibre.