Why Farmers Were Angry

Why Farmers Were Angry US History/Napp Name: ______Analyzing Images:

GRANGE CARTOON, 1873 “The Grange Awakening the Sleepers” – An American cartoon (1873) – Inspired by the Vanderbilt system of secret rebates, showing a farmer trying to rouse the country to the railroad menace Questions: 1- What words are written on the train cars? ______2- Who is the individual with the pitchfork? ______3- Who are the individuals under the train tracks? ______4- What is the meaning of the political cartoon? ______Historical Context: ~ Selected Case Studies in American History “Railroads were very important in the growth of the American West. Until railroads were built, transportation was a very huge problem for farmers living in the west. It was very difficult for farmers to move their crops to a town where they could be sold, and it was also very difficult for farmers to buy things that were made in the cities. Because of this, most farmers had to raise their own food and had to make many of the things needed on their farms. While this may have been a good life, farmers, like most other Americans, were interested in making money, and to make money without transportation was very difficult.

As a result, there was a great deal of pressure from many people, including farmers, to have railroads constructed as quickly as possible. But, because building a railroad cost a great deal of money, railroad construction began slowly. Both to help with the cost of building railroads and to encourage rapid construction, the federal government granted money and land to railroad companies. Land was given to railroads to be used as right-of- way for their tracks and as another form of money. The idea was that railroads could sell the land that they did not need for their tracks and thus raise money for construction. Altogether, 129,000,000 acres of public lands were given to railroads free of charge.

Of course, railroads were interested in selling this extra land as soon as possible. After the Civil War, railroad construction increased. A number of routes were completed that ran from the east coast to the west coast while a number of local railroads, called feeder lines, were built to service those areas between the transcontinental routes. As railroads were completed, farmers moved into the areas that railroads serviced. This was necessary as far as railroad owners were concerned. Not only did they need to sell their land but the owners also needed people in the new areas to use the railroads. To make a profit, railroads needed to ship farmer’s crops to eastern markets and to haul merchandise from manufacturing centers back to the farmers. Questions: 1- What was a huge problem for farmers living in the West before railroads were built? ______2- What was difficult for farmers to do before railroads were built? ______3- What did most farmers have to do before railroads were built? ______4- So, what did farmers in the West pressure the government to encourage? ______5- Why did railroad construction begin slowly? ______6- What did the federal government grant to railroad companies to increase the speed at which railroads were constructed? ______7- How did the federal government intend the railroad companies to use the land? ______8- How many acres of public lands were given to railroad companies free of charge? ______9- After what war did railroad construction increase? ______10- What is a feeder line? ______11- Once railroads were completed, what did farmers do? ______12- Why did the railroad companies need people to move into the new areas? ______13- How did railroad companies intend to make a profit? ______

It wasn’t easy for railroads to attract farmers. Many farmers thought that land west of the Missouri River was poor for farming and that the climate was dry. Railroad owners tried very hard to change this idea. Even though there often wasn’t enough rainfall to grow good crops in many western areas, railroads advertised that the climate in the West was changing and becoming more humid. Even some scientists believed this. They had a theory that as land was cultivated and trees were planted, it would rain more often because of increased evaporation. In fact, this seemed to be happening. During the 1870s, there was more rain than usual, and many early settlers were very successful. Railroads and others advertised this success. Pamphlets were published giving, in detail, the experience of early settlers – men who had nothing when they moved West, in a few short years, had been able to make a great deal of money. Railroads offered to sell their lands to new settlers at low prices. Some railroads even offered to move farmers and their equipment to the West for nothing.

The low price of land attracted many settlers to the west. The population of Kansas, for example, increased over 173% between 1880 and 1890 while Nebraska’s population increased over 267% in the same period of time. Many of those who came had very little money, but they were able to borrow enough to get a start. However, this was not always a good idea. Farmers unable to make payments on their loans could lose all they had invested.

The farmer’s problems were made worse by droughts like the one that began in 1887. Some crops simply did not grow, and those that did begin to grow were killed by hot winds that seemed to blow every day. Many farmers didn’t harvest a crop that year and could not make a payment to the bank. Some of them lost everything they had invested. Wagons with signs reading “In God We Trusted, in Kansas We Busted,” streamed east, away from the farms. The lack of rainfall lasted for ten years, and, in fact, much of the land that was settled by the early farmers could be used later only if it was irrigated.

Even in wet years, the lot of the average farmer was none too good. When the prices that farmers got for their crops were high, the costs of what they had to buy were high, as well. And when farm prices were low, plows and household goods still seemed to cost as much. After farmers made their mortgage payments and bought those things that they needed, there was little money left to show for their hard work.

To the farmer, what problems Mother Nature didn’t bring to him the railroads did. Farmers blamed the railroads for their troubles, especially when prices were low. In 1889, for example, corn was sold in Kansas for as little as ten-cents a bushel, and many farmers burned it instead of coal because it was worth less. Yet, the average price for the same bushel of corn in New York was one dollar. What happened to the other ninety-cents? The farmers believed that railroads took most of it.

Remember, all western crops had to be sent to eastern markets on railroads. Farmers complained that it cost a bushel of corn to ship another bushel of corn and that they had little choice but to pay what railroads charged. Usually, there was only one railroad serving a particular area, and even if there were two, they usually agreed to charge the same rates. Questions:

1- Why was it difficult for railroad companies to attract farmers to their land? ______2- How did railroad owners try to convince farmers to move into the new areas? ______3- What attracted many settlers to the west? ______4- How much did the population of Kansas increase between 1880 and 1890? ______5- How much did the population of Nebraska increase in the same period of time? ______6- Why did many farmers borrow money and why was it not always a good idea to borrow money? ______7- What made the farmer’s problems worse? ______8- How did the drought that began in 1887 affect farmers? ______9- What happened to some farmers affected by the drought that began in 1887? ______10- What was written on some wagon signs? ______11- How long did the lack of rainfall last? ______12- How could much of the land that was settled by early farmers only be used? ______13- Why did farmers face difficulties even in wet years? ______14- Why did farmers have little money to show for their hard work? ______15- Who did the farmers blame for their problems? ______16- How does the price of a bushel of corn in 1889 demonstrate why the farmer was angry with the railroad companies? ______17- Where did all western crops have to be sent? ______18- So, why did farmers need the railroads? ______Point of View Analysis:

Do you think that farmers had a right to blame railroads for much of their misfortune? As you might guess, there were differences of opinion on that question. To help you analyze the issue and make up your own mind, let’s listen in as two imaginary people debate the issue.

The first speaker is James Bitter, a Kansas wheat farmer and a leader in the farmers’ fight against the railroads.

“All we want is equal justice before the law. The time has come when the railroads will either control the people or the people will control the railroads. The laws regulating the roads are a joke because they either aren’t enforced or are so weak they can’t be enforced. The only way that we can achieve justice is to have the government take over the roads or regulate them very strictly. Transportation is something that is needed by all the people, especially the farmers. Right now, too much power lies in the hands of the railroad owners. They can decide what the rates will be and even whether they will haul our crops. They charge us more for hauling goods a short distance than a long distance; if we complain, our grain lies and rots in storage.

The railroads were built by selling land that belonged to all the people. Now some of the people, the farmers, are suffering. Their heritage, the land, was sold to them and no one pays attention to them when they complain.

Railroads are just like the post office system; both are needed by the people and both should be owned or controlled by the government in the interest of the people.”

Identify four points made by the speaker: 1- ______2- ______3- ______4- ______

The second speaker is Ralph Satterly, a lawyer for the Union Pacific Railroad.

“It is true that the railroad companies received land in return for laying track. But the amount of land given the roads has always been exaggerated; no railroad got enough money to pay the whole cost of laying track. Also, we must keep in mind the great public service performed by railroads in opening the West. The owners risked their money doing a good thing for the nation, and they deserve a fair return on their investment.

The profits earned by railroads are not as high as the farmers think. They forget that cars sent to the West to haul grain are sent out empty, and it costs money to do that. Also, because grain is ready for shipment only once a year, railroads have many cars which sit idle the rest of the year. This is very expensive, and since farmers are the only ones using the cars, they have to pay this expense.

Farmers just think that railroad charges are high. Actually, they are very cheap. How much would a man charge to carry a ton of wheat one mile? What would it cost a farmer to hire a horse to do the same? Railroads do it for less than one-penny.

Railroads are property; they are private companies doing business under the law. They should no more be controlled or owned by the government than a farmer’s land should. Do farmers want the government to tell them how much wheat they can grow? I think not; yet that’s what they want for the railroads. If the government controls private property, none of us will be free.” Identify four points made by the speaker: 1- ______2- ______3- ______4- ______

What do you think?

1. Do you agree with the farmer’s argument that the government should own or strictly control businesses that are needed by all the people? Why do you think so? ______2. Do you agree with the railroad owner’s argument that people should be allowed to do what they please with what they own? What are your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing? ______3. Which side, in your opinion, had the stronger arguments? ______4. Think of other situations where “fair play” or “equal justice” conflict with “property rights.” What is your opinion on these issues? ______

1- During the 1870’s and 1880’s, 4- “Transportation being a means of Midwestern farmers found that exchange and a earning a living was increasingly public necessity, the government difficult because should own and operate the railroads in the interest A. prices of agricultural products were of the people.” increasing (1892) B. railroad companies charged high rates for transporting farm products C. agricultural output was declining Which group showed the greatest rapidly support for this idea? D. farm labor was becoming more unionized A. western farmers B. union leaders 2- A main goal of the Granger C. factory owners movement of the 1870’s and 1880’s D. railroad owners was to 5- A goal of the Granger and Populist A. force the railroads to lower freight movements was to rates B. reduce the rate of inflation A. expand rights for African Americans C. strengthen labor unions B. help western farmers fight unjust D. improve living conditions in urban economic practices slums C. provide support for the banking industry 3- In the late 1800s, many business D. enable big business to expand practices of the railroads led to without government interference

A. an increase in the unemployment 6- In the late 1800s, the Granger rate movement tried to improve B. an increase in the demand for conditions for farmers by government regulation C. a decrease in the demand for raw A. lowering the rate of inflation materials B. strengthening the gold standard D. a decrease in the variety of products C. forcing railroads to lower their rates available for consumers D. making labor unions stronger