American Farmers Lesson

American Farmers' Challenges Lesson

It was said that before McCormick's machinery changed farming forever, families would have to struggle to cut enough grain during the fall to last them until the next harvest. One farmer, highly skilled at swinging at scythe, might only be able to harvest two acres of grain in a day.

The McCormick Reaper revolutionized agriculture, making it possible to harvest large areas of grain much faster than could have been done by men wielding scythes. Because farmers could harvest more, they could plant more. So McCormick's invention of the reaper made the possibility of food shortages, or even famine, less likely.

Multiple Choice

What was the effect when more mechanical methods were used by farmers?

• Farmers hired many more workers.

• Farm production went down drastically.

• Displaced farm workers looked for jobs in city factories.

• Farm workers went on strike for higher wages.

The Grangers were formed to promote the interests of farmers, especially small farm owners who were hurt by unfair railroad rates. They were successful getting some states to pass laws to restrict railroad rates.

Populists

They wanted to fight greed of businesses. They also wanted fix deflation which caused farm prices to go down. They believed using silver to make coins would bring more money into the economy and into the farmers' pockets.

Multiple Choice

Populists wanted to allow silver coinage in order to

• benefit farmers who needed more money for their crops.

• benefit big business who were hiring former farm workers.