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1st Black Indentured Servants in Jamestown
Twenty African men were brought to the colony of Jamestown in 1619 as indentured servants. When African American indentured servants first came to Jamestown, they were originally seen as similar to the poorest Englishmen in society. They were taken by force from their African homeland and were eventually turned into slaves. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was created by Eli Whitney to easily separate cotton fibers from the seeds. The cotton gin used small hooks and wire screens to separate the fibers and seeds. The invention of the cotton gin allowed the United States cotton production to expand rapidly. Along with the growth of the cotton industry, the cotton gin also brought unforeseen consequences because it allowed slavery to expand as well. -
McCormick Reaper
The McCormick Reaper, created by Cyrus McCormick, was a machine that would be pulled by a horse and was used to harvest grain and some other small crops. The first reapers would cut the grain then use a wheel to sweep the cut grain onto a platform for a man to put into piles. The mechanical reaper was able to be operated by only two men and it was able to cut wheat much quicker and more efficiently than in the past. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was signed in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln and allowed United States citizens to acquire surveyed land in new areas of the country. A United States citizen could get 160 acres of land if they promised to live on it for five years and improve the land by growing crops and building a house. After those five years, with the correct paperwork showing improvements to the land, the citizen could then become the owner of that land by paying a nominal registration fee. -
Munn v. Illinois Supreme Court Case
Munn v. IllinoisThis Supreme Court case was about state regulation of business. The court upheld an Illinois law that set a maximum rate for grain storage. The court argued that this represented a legitimate exercise of the state's power to regulate business that involves public interest. -
Bland-Allison Act
Bland-Allison ActThis act was a compromise between groups favoring coinage of silver and those who opposed it. It called for partial coinage of silver. Those for this act said it would add to the currency and help farmers and workers. Those against it said that few other major countries accepted silver coinage. Congress overrode Hayes's veto in 1878. -
Wabash v. Illinois Supreme Court Case
Illinois-Wabash Company This case was about states and th commerce clause. The Supreme Court took down an Illinois law regulating transportation contracts. The court's take down of these "granger" laws led to the push for the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. -
Interstate Commerce Act
Interstate Commerce ActThis act created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to investigate and oversee railroad activities. It also outlawed rebates and pooling agreements. The ICC then became the first prototype of the federal commissions that regulate many parts of the economy today. -
Sherman Silver Purchase Act
Sherman Silver Purchase ActThis act attempted to resolve the controversey over silver coinage. Under this act, the U.S. Treasury would purchase 4.5 million ounces of silver each month and issue legal tender (Treasury notes) for it. This act pleased opponents of silver because it did not call for free coinage, an d it pleased proponents of silver because it brought up most of the nation's silver production. -
Populist Organized
The Populist PartyFirst known as the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, the Populist party rose as the elections of 1890 drew close. The people in this party were farmers who were weary of drought, mortgages, and low crop prices. They promised unified action to solve agricultural problems. -
Great Prosperity for U.S. Farmers
Roaring TwentiesWorld War I was a high point of prosperity for United States farmers. Because of WWI, the government needed food and supplies. Farms grew in production of food which helped them to aid the country in its need of supplies during the war. Also, because of the United State's isolationistic policy, they did not trade much with other countries and focused on helping the U.S. economy. -
Falling Sales after WWI
Roaring TwentiesWhen the war ended, there was a lack of need for the extra surplus farmers were still producing. Since the farmers had a lot of surplus food, they sold it for low prices which did not help the farmers. Because of unbalanced prosperity, the U.S. economy was shifting to a depression. After the stock market crash of 1929, the U.S. was in a depression and was now a debtor nation. -
Agricultural Adjustment Act
Created by Congress in 1933 as part of the New Deal, the Agricultural Adjustment Act attempted to restrict agricultural production. The government paid farmers not to grow crops and make dairy products such as milk and butter. The AAA later tried to help farmers who were affected by the Dust Bowl in 1934. However, the act did not help tenant farmers and sharecroppers. It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1936.
