Transcript History of Agriculture

A History of Agriculture
in the United States
Part One
©2002 AgriTeach.comTM
(050502ms)
Importance of Agriculture
► Agriculture was the most important industry in America
from the 1600’s to the late 1800’s.
► U.S. agriculture continues to be the most efficient and
productive in the world.
► The success of U.S. agriculture rests on:
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Abundant fertile soil.
Moderate climate.
Ease of private land ownership.
Growing markets for farm produce at home and abroad.
The application of science and technology to farm operations.
The Early Years
► The settlers found that European agriculture didn’t work
well in the new world.
► They adopted the Native American practices of raising:
– Corn
– Squash
– Tobacco
► Corn was the leading food crop in the colonies.
► Tobacco was exported.
– Tobacco was raised mostly in Virginia and Maryland.
Crops Raised
► In New England, farmers on small acreages raised:
– Corn, oats, and rye, vegetables and fruits.
– Livestock, especially cattle and sheep.
► In NY, PN, and NJ, wheat was the major crop.
► Most farmers in early America were self-sufficient:
– They produced enough for their family needs
– They also sold surplus.
► Agriculture in the south was more specialized
– Corn was the main grain and food crop
– Tobacco, rice, and indigo were the principal export crops.
The Plantation System
► The plantation system was developed for production of
tobacco and rice
– Slaves provided most of the labor by the late 17th century.
► Cotton was grown for home use in the late 18th century.
– However, it was difficult to extract the seeds.
– Cotton did not become an important commercial crop until after the
invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793.
► Farmers then used crude hand tools:
– Most tools were made of wood, sometimes with iron parts.
– Plows might have an iron facing on the cutting edge.
– Planting, weeding, and harvesting were done by hand.
► A successful plantation required the labor of many.
Big Changes
► Big changes occurred at the start of the 19th century.
– Farmers surged westward.
– Farmers settled on the rich Ohio and Mississippi valleys.
► A huge grain-livestock empire took shape
– By 1860 the nation had 2,044,077 farms.
► Agricultural expansion was encouraged by:
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Removal of Native Americans from choice farmlands.
Liberal public land policies.
Development of canal and rail transportation.
Demand for food and fiber in the growing towns and cities.
Increasing exports.
Improved farm machinery.
Technological Changes
► One of the greatest advances was the shift from human to
animal power and the use of new labor-saving machines.
► In 1800, it took fifty-six man-hours to grow and harvest an
acre of wheat but only thirty-five man-hours in 1840.
► The following inventions changed the face of agriculture:
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Cotton gin
Iron and steel plows
Reapers
Threshing machines
Grain drills
Corn and cotton planters
Iron harrows and cultivators
New Practices
► Most farmers simply plowed up new lands when the fertility
of their fields declined.
► Of the three main components of production - land, labor,
and capital - land was the cheapest.
► It made economic sense to exploit the soil to the fullest.
► Agricultural reformers advised farmers to:
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Rotate their crops.
Conserve the soil.
Use fertilizers.
Adopt new crops.
Improve livestock breeds.
Use the latest machinery.
A History of Agriculture
in the United States
Source: Gilbert C. Fite, American
Farmers, The New Minority
©2002 AgriTeach.comTM
(050502ms)