2007 Apush Free Response Question

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this was viewed as necessary to not only help themselves and their family, but miners to the west. William Jennings Bryan was in support of the farmers, as with out them the country would be surely in trouble. (Doc. J) Republicans did not help the economy in anyway mainly due to laissez-faire. This would soon lead to the downfall of farmers and of America. Presidents such as Rutherford Hayes and Ulysses Grant did not help recover America from this impeding downfall.

Economically, farmers became poor and desperate for money. They were unable to obtain the silver standard they wanted in order help themselves, as they were not able to progress due to big business and their Republican backing. Farmers produced extraordinary amount of crops, but because of price reduction they were not making enough to sustain themselves and farms. (Doc. A) This led to severe overproduction. In certain cases, contracts were signed giving away half of the farmers net proceeds (Doc. E), leaving farmers with little essentially scraps of money. Crops and cattle that needed to ship far distances, usually was a strain on struggling farmers as transit fare increased as distance increased (Doc. F). Farmers are left poor and starving, because they are constantly taken advantage of by big businesses, leaving them with broken sprits and a loss of faith. (Doc. H). The same people they help to feed inevitably crush the farmers.

During the late 19th century, American farmers suffered from a laissez-faire government, while being trampled by Big businesses. Farmers suffered really bad hardships, due to the lack of representation of government. American Agriculture declined greatly economically and politically.