Farming in the 1600’s
The Roots of Farming in the United States
1607
Jamestown is founded under a charter with the Virginia Company of London.
Although adjusting to life in the “New World” was difficult colonists
eventually learned crops that grew well in the Americas such as maize,
indigo, and tobacco.
1612
John Rolfe perfects a way to grow tobacco. This plant soon takes over
Jamestown, with the “weed” even growing between graves. King Nicotine
helped give the colonies firm economic footing.
1619
First slaves are brought to the colonies. Slaves would allow for
colonial crops to go large scale, eventually providing most
of the raw materials to England and much of the world.
Farming in the 1700’s
The Development of Farming in the United States
Around 1707
Rice becomes the major crop of the Carolinas, this stimulated the slave
industry because many Africans were experts in growing rice which was a
common crop in Africa.
1700s
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were all
plantation colonies. They produced enormous amounts of rice and tobacco
which fueled the economy of the port cities and other colonies. However,
while growing tobacco they were ruining the rich soil and being forced into
new territory, Indian Territory. This land depletion jump-started the wheat
industry, wheat was often grown on the soil ruined by tobacco.
Farming in the 1700’s
The Development of Farming in the United States Continued
1750
Slavery was present in all 13 states. Time of the Triangle Trade system.
1759
New York was exporting 80,000 barrels of flour a year.
1776
Land grants were given to those who served in the Continental Army.
1785 & 1787
Land Ordinances allow for northwestern land to be sold, surveyed, and
cultivated.
1796
Public Land Act allows for the government to sell land at a
minimum of 640 acres at $2 an acre.
Farming Equipment in the 1800s
Important Inventions of the 1800s
During the 1800s, there was a huge influx of inventions and
patents that revolutionized farming and a farmers’ lives.
Iron Plow (1819), McCormick Reaper (1834), Steel
Plow (1837), Practical Threshing Machine (1839),
Barbed Wire (1874)
Impact of Inventions
What did the mean for farmers?
With all of these new inventions, farming got a little
bit easier for our American farmers.
The most important of those were the: iron and steel
plow, and the reaper. With these inventions, less
labor was needed to produce sufficient agriculture.
But, also with these inventions, the larger farms
were able to produce even more products and
harvest their agriculture even faster (slavery is an
issue during this time, but the other group will
probably talk about that).
Farmers and Life Around Them
What was going on in the 1800s that impacted farmers?
Farmers had a huge role during the 1800s.
We didn’t get to the Industrialization Age
until the late, late 1800s and early 1900s, so
farming was important in providing food
and agriculture. During this time, farming
was pretty important, especially with the
Civil War (and slavery) and farming unions
and groups.
Civil War
What did this mean for farmers?
We all know what a big deal the Civil War was,
but how did it impact farmers? The South was a
main agricultural epicenter; the majority of food
was grown there. So, that’s where we get into the
whole slavery issue. Farmers and their work force,
slaves, were pretty darn important because they
supplied food for the rest of the nation. But the
impact of the war on the northern vs. the southern
farmers differed.
The Southern Farmers
Farming and Life in the Civil War
The South was known for
“King Cotton” in the days
leading up to the Civil
War, and they believed
that in the case of a Civil
War, they would have the
upper hand with the
British because of the
enormity of their trade.
But, they were proved
wrong as “King Cotton”
failed them.
The Southern Farmers
Slavery and It’s Influence
- generally worked on large southern
cotton plantations, though also
helped with sugar, tobacco, and
other cash crops
- were abused, their worth only seen
as the work they could put in
- in 1861 chattel slavery ceased, gave
way to sharecropping in fields (this
would be outlawed a little less than
ten years later, though it very much
still existed and was prevalent in
the south)
The Northern Farmers
Farming and Life in the Civil War
-“boom period” for Union farmers
as a result of British trading, and growth
of wheat, etc.
-mechanical inventions helped produce more
food, so didn’t need to rely on Southern
agriculture as much
-1/3 of Union farmers joined the army
Farming Groups and Unions
Sticking Together in the 1800s
• Why were there farming groups?
– Moving west, etc. With the advent of improved
transportation methods and ways of farming,
there was even more competition for prices,
driving them down. Farmers were discontent
with the way they had no voice.
Farming Groups and Unions
Some Examples
• Granger (Patrons of Husbandry)
– Created to “promote the interests of farmers” 
would lead to:
• The Populist Party
– Elects James B. Weaver for president and James
G. Field for vice-president 1892  farmers now
have a say in politics with this new party
• Election Results show the power farmers had
politically: Weaver got over 1 million popular votes
and 22 electoral votes. One of the better
showings of a third party candidate
in US history.
Farming Equipment in the 1900s
Important Inventions of the 1900s
During the 1900s there was a huge expansion of
mechanized power. New inventions emerged also:
Open-geared gas tractors (1910-1915)
Prairie-type combine w/ auxiliary engine (1918)
Cotton stripper for High Plains (1926)
Impact of Inventions
What did it mean for farmers?
The change from horses to tractors sparked a
second American agriculture agricultural
revolution. With the use of the tractor, labor hours
required to produce bushels of corn, wheat, and
lint cotton decreased gradually throughout the
1900s.
By the 1970s, one farmer was able to produce
enough food for 76 people compared to the early
1700s and 1800s when farming was
more based on subsistence farming.
The Dust Bowl
The Migration to California
- drought ruins farmlands in
middle east
- great depression hits
- people move to California to
live in worker’s camps and pick
food on farms for a living
- these farmers called “Okies”, a
derogatory title at the time
- Farm Security Administration
set up camps to house the Okies
Cesar Chavez
One noteworthy advocate
for farmers was Cesar
Chavez, who formed the
National Agricultural
Workers Union (1948) and
worked towards equality,
higher wages, and freedom
for farmers. He organized
countless strikes, marches,
and boycotts to serve his
purpose.
He is considered as a hero
for many.
Terms and Phrases
You Need to Know About Farming
- the bracero program which
brought in Mexican
immigrants to do agricultural
labor
- the Agricultural Adjustment
Act of 1914 and 1938 set
“parity prices” (price set to
give something value) for
farmer’s goods so they
wouldn’t farm as much,
cutting down overproduction
- Farmer’s Alliance was a
political party in the 1890’s
(also known as Populists)
attacked trusts, and wanted the
unlimited coinage of silver.