Agriculture In The Nineteenth Century

Through the period of 1865-1900, America’s agriculture underwent a series of changes .Changes that were a product of influential role that technology, government policy and economic conditions played. To extend on this idea, changes included the increase on exported goods, do the availability of products as well as the improved traveling system of rail roads. In the primate stages of these developing changes, farmers were able to benefit from the product, yet as time passed by, dissatisfaction grew within them. They no longer benefited from the changes (economy went bad), and therefore they no longer supported railroads. Moreover they were discontented with the approach that the government had taken towards the situation.

In the mid-1800s lots of things were being made by machine. For example: clothing, shoes, watches, guns, and farming machines were made. In 1840 the workday was 11 ½ hours. The workers were very tired and they most likely would have accidents. Workers and even children were hurt a lot by the machines. In the summer they were hot and in the winter they were cold, because there was not air conditioning or a heater in the factories. There were no laws to help the working conditions, and even to protect them. The owners didn't care about the workers, they cared about the money. Children would work six days a week and 12 hours or more a day. In the factories it was really hard and dangerous. Children would work the machines

In the late nineteenth century shortly after the Civil War and Reconstruction, farmers in the Midwestern United States found themselves in quite a predicament. During the second industrial revolution of the United States that contained mass introduction of: railroads, oil, steel, and electricity, the risk-taking entrepreneurs of this era took an adventure into the world of cutthroat capitalism. In just a little time, a handful of monopolies arose in all these industries which hurt both the consumer of the product and the producer of the material (Doc. F). Because of the corrupt politicians in Washington DC, the absence of regulation on the monopolies put into place by bribes and greed or moderation from them, and the devious ways of the

The Farmer’s Plight During the late nineteenth century, the Western United States had already been settled and people were starting to move to urban cities in the East, but farmers stayed out in the West and suffered from many different issues. At this time, there was a massive influx of immigrants coming from Southern and Eastern Europe and many of these immigrants settled in the Mid West and became farmers. Prior to this time period, the United States used the Gold Standard which meant that gold was the only form of currency. big business was very powerful due to the Laissez-faire government system which allowed big business to operate without regulation.

Not only was learning how to operate new machines frustrating, it was also a very dangerous job. Safety standards had not yet been introduced and the people were working jobs in which losing their lives or being physically harmed was very likely and not uncommon. Workers were on the job for long hours every day without receiving frequent breaks. They also faced the risk of deadly fires and dealt with working in buildings that did not provide adequate ventilation or heating during the cold part of the year. For example, workers who were responsible for performing the process of purifying iron were often working in temperatures that would reach up to 130 degrees. It was also hard for the workers to protest or strike in hopes of receiving better working conditions or fairer working hours because of the unemployment rate being fairly high. Employers could easily replace them with someone else and also because working rights had not been established at this point, strikes were often dealt with severely.

By the late 1800s, America was transitioning from an economy based on agriculture to one based on industry. Although this transformation made the United Stated richer and more powerful than it had ever been before, it caused farmers to face numerous problems to which they found themselves unable to successfully overcome. Even though many farmers moved into the industrial workforce, the ones who wished to continue agricultural work faced problems such as overproduction and tariff policies. Also, the farmers lost their political power due to the decreased focus on agriculture.

During the 1880’s there were challenges that the farmers had to overcome. There was not as many Technology advancements. They were so far behind that they had really just invented the first Chilled Plow . Created by oliver. Back then when if first came out it was very expensive.

Farmers faced many issues in the 1800’s. First off, debt was a huge issue for farmers. Falling crop prices, unpaid loans, and crashing banks all led to the huge debt of farmers. Because the crop prices were falling in the horrible economy loans could not be paid back, unemployment soared, and businesses went under. There was also the tariff issue. Tariffs on imported goods were discouraging people to buy these products. They raised

From the early beginnings of America to well into the nineteenth century, America has been dominantly an agricultural country. Farming and the country life have always been a great part of the American culture. Thomas Jefferson even expressed his gratitude for the farming class by saying

The African Americans always lived in fear. They were put to work early in the morning and did not go to bed until their job was done no matter how long they were working. If the African American did tried to disobey their master they were beaten sometimes to death. Some of the African Americans would be tempted by the thought of running away to get away from this unfair treatment. The punishments for trying to escape was very horrific, but still many slaves tried to escape and very little of them made it.

Throughout time, politics has evolved in response to a society’s needs. American farmers in the late 1800’s had problems of their own that lead to the radical politics of rural America. New technology, the high cost of freight trains and water, and growing cash crops lead to debt and losing land for many farmers: issues that eventually culminated in radical politics.

Almost 95 years ago most farmers did not have the technology and machines to help them with planting, harvesting, and just simple work around the farm. Farming in the 1920’s was very different compared to today’s farming styles. In the 1920’s life around the farm, caring for livestock, planting and harvesting crops and machines was much different than it is today. Farming and work around the farm revolved around the seasons.

An agrarian is a person who advocates a redistribution of landed property, especially as part of a social movement. An Industrialist is a person involved in the ownership and management of industry. In the 1800’s the two separate cultures started to emerge in America. The south was for the agrarian and the north started growing industrially. The south liked their old traditions, yet, the north wanted to expand them.

Doughlas Lawr’s article, Agricultural Education in Nineteenth-Century Ontario: An Idea in Search of an Institution is based on the development of agricultural education in “the science of farming” during the 19th century Canada. His article focuses on whether there was a need to correct the farming practices in Ontario and if agricultural education would be the right answer to improve farming conditions as well as the economic development of the whole country. According to Lawr, brining scientific methods of production to the farmers through agricultural education seemed a good way to strengthen the province's basic industry. However, this new institution did go through many ups and downs that Lawr’s article further elaborates on.

During the late nineteenth century, the agrarian movement evolved into a political force that energized American farmers to voice their political and economic grievances like never before. Although the movement essentially died after William Jennings Bryan's loss of the 1896 Presidential election, many of the reforms they fought for were eventually passed into law.