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Group 2A
DBQ: Agriculture 1865-1900
Prompt: Analyze the ways in which technology, government policy and economic conditions changed
American agriculture during the period 1865 -1900.
Mark Twain coined the term “The Gilded Age” to represent the time of immense innovation in
the late nineteenth century. During this time, industry prospered, technology advanced, and the
American standard of living increased. However, while this period brought massive growth to the
wealthy population, those working in the agricultural field began to suffer more than ever before. As the
United States was functioning under a laissez-faire style of government, the farmers had minimal voice
and therefore minute ability to seek affluence. Despite the positive impacts of technological
advancements on rates of production, agricultural progression was hindered due to severe government
bias and the numerous financial adversities with which farmers were faced.
The expansion of railroads, such as the Northern Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad, was a
prevalent factor on means of growth in the agricultural industry between the years 1870 and 1890
(Document B). Robber barons, such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and James Hill, had extreme impacts on the
extension of the railroads and thus linked primary markets in the nation and enabled shipping of
products across the country to become increasingly feasible. In addition, land grants were distributed to
expand the railroad, giving priority to the wealthy to fuel their well-being and disregarding the needs of
farmers.
The opinion of the Farmers’ Alliance was heard through the initiation of Illinois implementing
freight rates to limit the price at which certain cargo is delivered (Document C). Though the farmers’
voice was acknowledged, this was one of the few events in which their desires were met and would not
be recognized in future years.
Chicago would become a leading influence on the railroad because of its growing meatpacking
industry. Five railroads concluded its path in Chicago and technological advancements altered the
method of cattle ranching and promoted industry (Document F).
Along with technological innovations and improvements of railroads, production of wheat,
cotton, and corn increased from 1865-1900 (Document A). Agricultural methods now entailed
commercial farming and chemical fertilizers to increase rates or production. Despite this fact, America
still underwent times of vast strain due to the Panic of 1873, as well as the Panic of 1893. During this
time, agriculture’s overproduction and inflation led to an upward spiral in economic frustration.
The use of the combine fueled the intense overproduction of this time period (Document D).
Following overproduction, prices per bushel of wheat exhibited a dramatic decrease in price (Document
A) and caused complaints from Mary Elizabeth Lease (Document G). She claimed that political speakers
misled the farmers because of their encouragement to cultivate big crops, further proving the
government’s bias towards growth of industrial aspects of the country as opposed to the agricultural
aspects.
As this was a period of attempting to exercise racial equality, sharecropping, tenant farming,
and the crop lien system became common practices for multiple races—including African Americans.
Landowners would lend out their territory to individuals to cultivate and gain profit upon harvest. But
the tenant performed this agricultural method under strict contract, and sharecroppers endured debts
that landowners deducted prior to earning payment. (Document E). Often times, poverty ran rampant
for not just Black farmers but White farmers as well, pushing farmers further into insufficiency.
In order to gain more fertile territory to promote agriculture, Americans resorted to claiming
Indian reservations. The country supported the idea that American Indians were unintelligent and lazy,
and their land should be put towards agriculture (Document I). After the U.S. government created and
passed the Dawes Severalty act, the former Reservation System had fallen into oblivion and white
settlement on former Indian Territory became increasingly prevalent.
Farmers and their families were beyond the point of desperation when nasty winters and hail
had a detrimental effect on crops in the later nineteenth century (Document H). Misery had become so
profound that farmers resorted to migration to the Great Plains, as influenced by Fredrick Jackson
Turner’s Frontier Thesis. When minimal success was found there, families returned to the East’s high
unemployment rates with no knowledge of where to go next.
The government went against the farmers yet again when the heated debate of whether to
utilize the gold standard or coinage of silver gained momentum (Document J). As a means of fighting
farmer adversities, the Populist Party functioned under its Omaha Platform and was formed to speak up
to their desire for “free and unlimited coinage of silver,” because the gold standard harms commercial
interests. Farmers had earned virtually no benefits from the government, causing industry to prosper
while agriculture suffered.
The U.S. government undoubtedly lived up to the term laissez-faire during the second half of the
nineteenth century. Big business boomed while agriculture faced intense adversities. These years taught
America the lesson that innovation and support to all aspects of the nation are dependent on one
another. Moving into the twentieth century, the nation would adopt administrations that were more
hands-on as a means to emphasize the importance of supporting multiple facets of the nation to ensure
progress at its highest possible level.
Document Based Question
Prompt: Analyze the ways in which technology, government policy, and economic conditions changed
American agriculture in the period 1865-1900.
Document A
Agricultural Practices in
Dollars per unit, 1865-1900
Explanation of Document
 Production of wheat, cotton, and corn
increased from 1865-1900
 Price per bushel and production of bushels
varied for all crops
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Document B
Railroads in 1870 and 1890
Document C
Prairie Farmer, July 14,
1877
As a whole, there was a general increase in
production for the crops addressed
Analyzing of Document
 America underwent times of both strain and
prosperity in the time period
 Innovation occurred in farm machinery, as
well as increases in beneficial agricultural
practices
 Agriculture’s overproduction and deflation
led to an upward spiral in economic
frustration
Explanation of Document
 Railroads expanded massively between 1870
and 1890
 Government land grants were given to
construction of railroads
 Cattle trails had prevalence from the Texas
Railroads
Analyzing of Document
 Transporting products to markets in the East
became more feasible
 Settlement grew in the western region of the
country
 National markets grew due to expansion of
railroads
 Government grants and subsidies further
promoted expansion of railroads
Explanation of Document
 Farmers were not advocates of the railroads
 Illinois set laws to limit freight rates (a price
at which a certain cargo is delivered from one
point to another)
 The U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged
Illinois’ freight rate laws
 IL was the only state with such laws
Analyzing the Document
 Farmers supported state regulation of freight
rates
 Laissez-faire democracy was experiencing
alterations
 Patrons (of Husbandry) were organized
farmers
 Farmers had a certain degree of political
influence with states doubting policies
Document D
The Wheat Harvest, 1800
Document E
A Contract in North
Carolina, 1882
Document F
Harper’s New Monthly
Magazine, 1884
Document G
Speech by Mary Elizabeth
Lease
Explanation of Document
 There was a profound need for large
equipment and horses to assist with
harvesting
Analyzing the Document
 Post 1880, utilization of technology to farm
increased productivity of agriculture
 With new technology available, farmers would
transition to the use of large-scale commercial
farming
Explanation of the Document
 The individual writing the contract
determines where and when to sell cotton
 The writer will subtract the amount owed to
he/she by the farmer
 Half of the net proceeds of the farmer will be
paid to the writer
Analyzing the Document
 Landowners controlled any sharecropping
contracts
 Following the conclusion of the Civil War,
sharecropping was a common practice
 Poverty was a common problem for not just
Black, but White farmers as well in the South
 Sharecroppers endured debts that
landowners deducted before given their share
of payment
Explaining the Document
 Packaging and transporting of beef was
essential for Chicago’s prosperity
 Beef came from both the Northern and
Southern regions of the West
 Five railroads concluded its path in Chicago
Analyzing the Document
 Shipping of beef was made more efficient with
the railroads
 Chicago was on its way to becoming a
meatpacking district
 Technological advances caused for change
with cattle ranching and promoted industry
Explaining the Document
 Politicians frequently lied to farmers
 Farmers were encouraged to produce big
crops

Document H
In Kansas, Susan Orcutt to
Lorenzo D. Lewelling, June
29, 1894
Document I
R.W. McAdams, Oklahoma
Magazine, 1894
Document J
Excerpts from a speech by
William Jennings Bryan, July
1896s
Overproduction was a major problem during
this time
 10,000 children starved each year in the U.S.
 Farm prices were experiencing decline
Analyzing the Document
 The reason for falling farm prices was due to
overproduction
 Tensions were high between farmers and
government representatives
 Farmers may begin to feel the need to start
their own political party
 Populist Party would emerge
Explaining the Document
 Hail had detrimental effects on crops
 No jobs are available in 10 countries
 The Orcutts are starving
Analyzing the Document
 Great Plains farming held great difficulty
 The Homestead Act resulted in numerous
people coming to the Great Plains
 Many returned East because of immense
hardships
 Farmers were majorly effected by the Panic of
1893, causing poverty and unemployment s
Explaining the Document
 American Indian students believe in
individualism
 Argues that American Indians are
unintelligent and lazy
 American Indian territory should be reduced
 The land reserved for Indian reservation is
wasted and should go toward agriculture
Analyzing the Document
 In the past, attempts were made to adapt
American Indians to culture of Americans
 Acres for farming increased
 Westerners loathed Natives
 The Dawes Severalty Act allowed for white
settlement of Indian reservation s
Explaining the Document
 City survival is based upon survival of farmers
 Cities were attracted by the gold standard
 Majority of world is against gold standard
 The gold standard hurts commercial interests
Analyzing the Document
 Farmers were advocates of coining silver
 Cities depend on farmers; farmers are not
dependent on cities
 High conflict between rural and urban
benefits
 Republicans: Gold Standard
 Democrats and Populists: unlimited coinage
of silver
 Populist Party was farmers’ response to
adversity
Document
Document A
Document B
Document C
Document D
Document E
Document F
SFI List
 Department of Agriculture
 Panic of 1873
 Panic of 1893
 Commercial farming
 Chemical fertilizers
 Overproduction/Crop Surpluses
 Subsidies
 Immigration
 Vanderbilt, Hill, Gould
 Robber Barons
 Great Northern Railroad
 Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe
Railroad
 Farmers’ Alliances
 Granger Laws
 Munn v. Illinois
 Interstate Commerce Commission
 Laissez-faire
 Dry Farming
 Dust Bowls
 Combines
 Grain elevator/warehouses
 Crop lien
 Sharecropping
 Tenant Farming
 New South
 Debt Peonage
 Severe Winters of 1885-1887
 Cow Towns
 Cattle Trails
Document G
Document H
Document I
Document J
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Populist/People’s Party
“Raise less corn and more hell”
Omaha Platform
Fredrick Jackson Turner/Frontier
Thesis
Homestead Act of 1862 (impact)
Reverse Migration
Sodbusters
Dawes Severalty Act
Helen Hunt Jackson/A Century of
Dishonor
Indian Territory
Reservation System
Wounded Knee
“Cross of Gold” speech
Dingley Tariff
McKinley Tariff
L. Frank Baum/The Wizard of Oz
“Free and unlimited coinage of
silver”
Election of 1896
Agriculture DBQ Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Introduction
Thesis: Despite the positive impacts of technological advancements on rates of
production, agricultural progression was hindered due to severe government bias and
the numerous financial adversities with which farmers were faced
A. Standard of living
B. Laissez-faire
Railroads
A. Expansion of railroads throughout the west affected agricultural industry.
1: Northern Pacific Railroad
2: Central Pacific Railroad
B. Robber barons fixing shipping costs hindered the small farmers.
1: Vanderbilt
2: James Hill
Farmers Alliance
A. Legislation didn’t have any laws preventing fixing
1:Illionis Legislature
Meat Packing Industry
A. In Chicago, five railroads ended their routes there helping the meat packing
industry ship.
1: Cattle Ranching
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
Technology
A. Technological improvements between 1865 and 1900 caused the overproduction
of many crops causing economic turmoil.
1: Panic of 1873 and 1893
2: Mary Elizabeth Lease
Share Cropping
A. The system of sharecropping kept many African-Americans in poverty but
landowners prospered from the land.
1: Tennant Farmers
Indian Land
A. When the Indians were moved to the Great Plains in the early 1800’s it was their
land but later the government came back and took it from them because the land
was fertile.
1. Dawes Act
Farmers
A: Families who lived on the Great Plains had to deal with nasty winters and many
people died.
1.Frontier Thesis
B. Government didn’t change to the silver standard but kept the gold the standard.
1. Populist Party
2. Omaha Platform
Conclusion
A. The US government’s policy of laissez-faire economics and new technology
hindered agriculture and benefited big business causing the depreciation of crop
prices.