Assignment 2: Guiding Questions

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.

Both books can be considered “coming of age” subject matter. How do Elie and Liesel change?

Despite the flushed predictions of prosperity that had lured new settlers to the plains, the reality was more difficult. The farmers claimed that they did not have enough land, money, and transportation (Doc C). The farmers went into in a never ending cycle if they did not have a good harvest. As Booker Washington explains the farmers had no money so they had to borrow money from the banks which charged 12 to 30 percent interest. The interest the farmers were hit with was nearly impossible to repay so they had to mortgage everything and if the mortgage wasn’t paid the land was foreclosure which led the yeomen to become tenant farmers (Doc B). With periods of drought growing good crops was hard. Leading Economic Sectors shows how the farmers predicament of not being able to make a very

Person centred planning is a set of approaches designed to assist someone plan their life with support. It is most often used as a model to enable people with disabilities or otherwise requiring support to increase their personal self determination and improve their own independence. It discovers and acts on what is important to the person.

This is also the greatest fear of the wealthy landowners, who do everything in their power to keep the workers from organizing. The author, John Steinbeck, writes, "For here `I lost my land' is changed; a cell is split and from its splitting grows the thing you hate - `We lost our land.' The danger is here, for two men are not as lonely and perplexed as one"(206;Ch. 14). This is why, in the government camp where the Joads stay for a while once they get to California, the landowners try to set up a fight so police can be brought in when they weren't allowed before. The government camp represents, in the most tangible way shown in the novel, the positive results of organization and working together to achieve something. The government camp is completely independent of the system outside its walls - the people take care of each other and make their own rules. This is the place where quality of life is best for the Joads. Jim Rawley, the camp manager, comments on the hard work of the people when speaking to Ma Joad: "They keep the camp clean, they keep order, they do everything. I never saw such people"(415;Ch. 22). This is the result of cooperation instead of disorganization. This is the very thing that the wealthy want to destroy.

The Populists took major issues with the capitalists and monopolies of the era. In their party’s platform (Document A), the Populists say that the land is “concentrated in the hands of the capitalists.” This prevented the small farmer from living the American Dream of building a successful life for himself and his family. A common view for farmers was expressed by James B. Weaver in 1892 (Document F), who believed that the monopolies of the era were “organized to destroy competition and restrain trade.” These large scale farms caused overproduction, causing an “alarming fall in the price of wheat (Document E).” This price fall caused a chain reaction of events that all had the same effect, small farmers being crippled by loss of income.

After the Civil War there were many factors that contributed the changes that occurred in farming in America. Among them was the drive for the South to renew and regain what had been lost due to the war. Leaders saw it as a time to diversify and turn towards industrialization. The Industrial revolution was underway and with it brought many new inventions that would lead to growth in the farming industry. The wide open space between the East and the West called “The Frontier” was open for homesteading. New immigrants with their farming knowledge and ability were flooding the East and West gates of the U.S. This was a time in American history when Americans

later, brought rural farmers’ grievances into the picture after their land was destroyed during the

To begin, the farmers were fighting for their rights. According to Document C, “what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?” (Jefferson). Thomas Jefferson explained that it is normal for people to protest if they think something is wrong. In this case, the farmers didn’t like that they were being punished because they couldn’t afford to pay the high taxes, so they started speaking up. But instead of pacifying the farmers, they were being

As crop prices fell, farmers were forced to mortgage their lands and take out loans in order to grow more and more crop just to break even. When these tactics were ultimately unsuccessful, the banks closed in and quickly foreclosed on the farmers estates. These mass foreclosures led to a belief among farmers that they were all slaves to their “eastern masters” and that only the freedom of unlimited silver would release them from their shackles.

Why did farmers express discontent during 1870-1900 and what impact did their attitudes and actions have on national politics. Manufacturing hit a huge growth rate during this period which cause agriculture to decline, and cause farmers to struggle to make a living. The farmers were now being abused by the railroad companies and banks. The documents in DBQ 8 show rationality for the farmer’s protests, exclusively on bank mortgage tariffs and the gold standard. Two particular groups became popular during this period and that would be the Grangers and the Populist Party. Farmers fought against the Gold Standard, railroads, and industrialist during this period causing lots of confrontation.

Therefor there is a probability that the cards drawn will equal a sum of 10.

Despite the vast amount of land available for agriculture, industry was created regardless, in order to become more independent from Europe. Machinery was developed that would eliminate the need for actually laborers, but at the same time this machinery needed laborers to work it6. Thus the Proletariat formed. This class was negatively viewed by the Federalists as they believed that any one who was dependent upon others was not virtuous and thus not a proper citizen. The condition of the proletariat class was also poor, and the Federalists believed that the poor were more prone to indecent behavior and unpredictability7. Kerber quotes Federalist Philip Barton Key, who stated that men and boys in workshops were not expected to have the same stable constitution as those who were in charge of their own salaries and independent in their lives8. What is meant is that those who are rich and assured of their social and economic standing are not going to rebel. They have influence in what matters to them politically, unlike those who are poor, who would have more reason to start an uprising.

     Farmers were once known for being able to do everything themselves. They grew their own food and sewed their own clothes. People often yearn for the old days and complain about so many people living in cities. Many farmers had to give up their farms and move to the cities, because of something that happened in the late nineteenth century.

Study Questions: Answer the following questions (based on the reading), save it and then submit it to the professor.