American Agriculture Essay

Submitted By Alex-W
Words: 1375
Pages: 6

D.B.Q Essay Throughout the years, American agriculture has expanded and developed a multitude of ways. It experienced extremely noticeable changes from the years 1865-1900. These changes included involvement of new technology, government policy, and economic conditions in order to deliver positive or negative aftereffects to American agriculture. The information provided by the documents help support the time periods’ changes. As always, the varying time periods throughout history introduce new technology to society. To start off, Document B displays a map of major U.S railroads. This new technology allowed hastier transportation throughout the U.S in general. It connected states that allowed transportation of various foods. For example, California was infamous for the gold rush and branching off in to several different paths for the railroads, but had also provided agricultural products to the country. It shipped things like oranges, pears, and berries that were grown on the small farms in California. Although farming was not as popular as it was in the South or midwest, farmers were still fully capable of making a living by shipping their crops from California. Document D is a display that shows a Wheat Harvest in 1880. However, a new technology can be seen in this picture. It shows a horse drawn wheat combine; the overall information gathered is an example of technology having another positive affect on American agriculture. The horses are able to produce a more rapid and efficient way of harvesting wheat, which in turn, helps the farmers. They are able to provide more crops and receive more money for their lifestyle. Document F, most likely written by an employee for a local newspaper company, had discussed shipping beef and rail lines. This article was most likely written by the company to introduce the nations’ relatively new way of shipping canned meat. It discusses the use of shipping food East, resulting in a positive effect from technology. Although it does not discuss farming or any direct agriculture, it still supports that the rail lines were used to ship various foods, which do include crops, not just meat. Many of the rail lines in the mid west and west had a several amount of crops loaded on them to be shipped through the states. It briefly describes its’ spread throughout the country as the West was leading the shipping industry at the time. Overall, the effects of technology on American agriculture resulted in positive effects that helped the nation build its’ power. Secondly, the government had a major effect to American agriculture in several ways. A Prairie farmer, who seems to be neutral in the Illinois laws of freight rates, wrote document C. He/she seems to have no blatant or biased standpoint on the current situation at hand. The document is discussing freight rates and the railroads opposing limited freight rates. Freight rates are the cost of shipping cargo depending on method, product, etc. This is similar to modern-day shipping. The Supreme Court ruled over the Patrons, resulting in a unique state having such laws to limit freight rates. This is understandable due to the overwhelming products constantly going back and forth, as the prices can vary and change vastly. Limited freight rates help limit this wide gap and equal the factors out. Document I is a biased document from a state magazine designed to sway readers in to supporting more land for American homesteaders. The document was most likely written by someone with farming experience, friends or family engaged in farming, or is extremely patriotic to support a growing nation. It is saying that the Natives are fed and herded in to large areas. However, the areas should be more enclosed and not harm an average homesteader based on people who are not engaged with the U.S farming system. At the time, Natives were not always welcomed in to society. Natives were treated poorly with harsh laws thrown upon them by the U.S government. The local