The Treatment of American Farmers During the Latter Part of the 19th Century

The contention of whether or not the farmers in the late part of the 19^th century were exploited and their ways of life ultimately endangered is not subject to challenge. As the political policies implemented throughout the latter part of this era certainly put small, family-owned farms at an economic disadvantage in relation to the industrialized areas. Government officials regularly put big businesses at an advantage by appeasing them with favorable legislation. This, accompanied with the overall profiteering demonstrated by the railroad companies, banks, and other big businesses involved in the process of farming and distribution, made agrarian discontent rampant among farmers throughout the nation. However, some of the claims made by these farmers were discernibly invalid, as they inadvertently escalated the situation by trying to push the balance of power in their favor, and depriving the situation of equilibrium. Farmers and agricultural workers pursued both their legitimate and illegitimate complaints through diplomatic, economic, and political means, and attempted to rectify their situation.