Agrarian discontent dbq

Between 1880-1900, farmers believed that the railroad companies were swindling away their profits and that the government favored big business. The farmers had every reason to feel some sort of discontent because of their predicament as well as the fact that the government saw a need for reform which created the notion that problems existed. Farmers were correct in arguing that the United States’ money supply was not what it should be; over 30 years the population nearly double while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). Railroads had a monopoly on shipping which raised costs and affected profit, the value of crops deflated, and big business was a strong opponent to the much needed Free Silver Movement that farmers were relying on. The first major topic regarding farmers discontent with their economic situation involves the shipping monopolies controlled by the railroad companies. The cost of transportation was spiraling out of control, there was never any certainty when it came to exactly what it would cost for a farmer to ship his crop. Profit became a scarcity with the cost of shipping amounting to much more than the worth of the crop (Doc H). The ridiculous demands of railroad companies can also be compared to the crop deflation that made it that much more difficult to provide for one’s family, the companies claimed that the operating expense of the railroads demanded such intimidating shipping costs (Doc G). Farmer’s were left exasperated and often had no choice but to foreclose on their farms because no profit was to be made, this can also be seen within the fact that the United States’ money supply was not what it should have been, over 30 years the population nearly doubled while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). â€Å"All his calculations as to a profit on his little investment he had based on freight rate of two cents a pound. Good money never made times hard (Doc B). Secondly, Farmers also struggled economically due to the value of the crop deflating and the surplus of crop that they were creating. This sudden, drastic increase of the supply without any increase of demand correlates directly with the economic downfall of the farming class (Doc E). In accordance with this, Europe had been able to compensate for their populations growth agriculturally, therefore eliminating the United States as a needed source for food and plummeting the Farmers into a deeper economic depression. This information however does not discredit the validity behind their plea. Farmers acted circumstantially and gathered more crop in order to stimulate more revenue, they did not intend for the dilution of the agrictural marketplace both here in the United States, as well as in Europe. Finally, there appeared to be a solution to the Farmers problems. The Free Silver Movement provided a way for those of a lesser income to stimulate their own revenue by converting their silver to gold. This would finally eliminate the Gold Standard and provide somewhat of an opportunity to farmers who were so desperately trying to recover from economic nothingness. It is mere pretense to attribute the hard times to the fact that all our currency is in a gold basis (Doc B) said William McKinley and with the institution of the Free Silver Movement his words would have done truth to Farmers. The supply of currency would no longer be used as a way to control those members who did not posses it (Doc A). In conclusion railroad companies, crop deflation, and big business created insurmountable barriers for farmers throughout the eighteenth century. There was little they could do to prevent the unavoidable fate; annihilation of any sort of economic success. The Farmers were no longer going to be slaves to the owners of monopolies and every effort made a difference in one way or another. (Doc D)