The Agricultural Crisis by Wendell Berry

Its present ills have already taken root in it. Even with these faults, this society appreciated the hard work of farming compared to the easy way of living today. One point of Berry’s argument is that he believes that the land is falling more and more into the hands of speculators and professional people from the cities, who in spite of all the scientific agricultural miracles still have more money than farmers. Big technology and large economics has caused more abandonment of land in the country than ever before. Many of the great farmers are clearly becoming different because they lack then manpower and money to maintain properly.

The land will not be suitable for living anymore. Factory farms regulate U.S. food production, employing uncivil practices that maximize agribusiness profits at the expense of the environment, our communities, animal welfare,... ... middle of paper ... ...mistreating workers could not do any good on the business. Exploitation on workers has resulted in bad reputation of the factory farms, more people stood out to criticize them, and even oppose to the factory farming industry. To sum up, factory farming is not an acceptable agricultural practice, for it causes serious pollution problems, having no moral conscience on animal treatments, threatened traditional farming business and exploited its workers. If the wealth of the business came from pollution to the shared environment, unnecessary inhumane treatment on animals and exploitation on its workers, it would never be a morally just company, and it does not deserve our support.

However, this practice hurt smaller shippers, including farmers, for often times railroad companies would charge more to ship products short distances. The freight rates were a burden on the farmers (Doc F). So the farmers grouped together forming National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry to protest these outrageous rates. Even though the farmers felt protesting the rates was a benefit for them it was actually a benefit fo... ... middle of paper ... ...at sixteen to one became the party's battle cry. They believed that this formula would create a financial system that would meet their needs by producing a controlled inflation.

The aftermath of the AAA saw hard times for many. Sharecroppers, who did not own their own land and became unemployed as the AAA did not help them. Some got jobs with farmers that did own land destroying their crops, but once th... ... middle of paper ... ... Schlessinger claims the New Deal only got the wheels of industry turning but no more. Economists who opposed the New Deal claimed that the acts introduced were only short-term policies and that there was no real long term plan for America’s future. They believed that those who came to rely on the New Deal had been conned as all evidence pointed to the fact that some time in the near future they were likely to become unemployed again.

Higher powers such as Presidents, would only help those who would keep them as Presidents, this idea drowns in political corruption and patronage. The Populist, farmer groups, brought the Civil Service reform, direct elections of senators, and a the 17th amendment. All were produced in attempt to end corruption and stop the untrustworthy money circulation. Farmers were being taken advantage of to the point that they felt they were being bought and abused (Doc D). But in reality low circulation was their issue.

Variation on prices than begun to occur as shown in document A, Agriculture prices in 1865-1900, where a greater amount of goods became available for a more convenient price. This had farmers in distress, for they were losing more money than they were making. Farmers’ incomes were low, and in order to make a profit on what they produced, they begun to expand the regions in which they sold their products in. This was facilitated through the railroads, by which through a series of grants from the government as... ... middle of paper ... ...er party being formed, the populist party. This party had the belief that cities depended on farms, yet farms did not depend on cities.

Everyone since that moment depended on them more as a source for food. Since higher authority figures live off the work that peasants performed, without them the community itself would be lost on how to provide for themselves. Since the peasants acquired the special skill given to grow crops, those in higher power took advantage increasing their demands. Given that the demands of labor by higher power were stupendously high and inconsiderate, the peasants rebelled arguing their grievances and hoping their aspirations to be met. During these revolts there were many peasants rebelling against the corrupted feudal system and the corruption within the Church.

Overall, great societies fall because of internal problems such as, unemployment which leaves people begging for money, political corruption that has government officials constantly fighting, and fast expansion making it very difficult for soldiers to be at all of the borders protecting the whole empire. One of the main reasons great societies fall is because of unemployment. Wealthier people owned farms and had slaves work, making their goods cheaper. However, farmers who had freed men that they had to pay could not sell their goods for very cheap, because they needed the money to pay the workers with. Eventually, the farmers couldn’t keep up with the cheap goods and eventually lost their farms leaving them unemployed and the freed men working for them.

There was also an overproduction of products. This led to lower prices and less money for the farmers. Document E gives a clear example of the results of overproduction and no demand. The low prices and deflated currency frustrated the farmers greatly, and the price of interest was so high so they had to carefully watch their debt. Monopolies formed all over the country in steel, oil, and railroad companies.

It was also getting more and more expensive to ship their goods to markets to be sold so they could make a profit. The large railroad corporations didn’t think twice about making outrageous, and unfair prices for short or long hauls even though the farmers couldn’t afford the high prices. Also, the European markets were going through a tough depression at the time, and as a result, the American farmers were struggling from the loss of foreign business. Farmers were constantly in debt and they had no power over the prices of the equipmen... ... middle of paper ... ...ncome tax, unlimited coinage of silver, immigration restriction direct election of US senators, end of absentee ownership of land, and other reforms that would give the people more power in controlling the political process. The populist movement wanted to do away with the laissez-faire attitude which the farmers felt was responsible for their current economic situation.