Figure 1.--Here we see an dairy farmer in 1908. This was the same year that Hennry Ford began producing yh Model T-Ford. Cars, trucks, abnd tractors woukd bery rapidly begin replacing horses in both cities and farms leading to huge inceases in productivity and demographic and culturl shifts that would transform America.

America by the turn of the 20th century had become the most important industrial power in the world. It was also the leading producer of agricultural commodities. And despite the rapidly expanding industry, most Americans still lived on farms and in rural areas. For most countries developments on farms had little impact on other countries, even neighboring countries. Not so America. America is an exceptional country which the Europeans already knew. Thus is why millions of Europeans came to America. What the Europeans did not know at the beginning of the decade was that American farmers would save millions of lives throughout the continent. American agriculture expanded in the 19th century primarily by expanding the area of land under cultivation. By 1900 the huge increases would come to an end. The land under cultivator increased 5 percent in the 1900s. [U.S. Census, 1910.] This was, however, was relatively small increase compared to the 19th century decades. There was concern that population was increasing faster than food production, but developments in the 1900s would radically increase productivity. The problem the American farmer would face in the 20th century would be over production. From now on increased agricultural production would have to come from improved productivity. Some of this could come from increased improvement and cropping. [Coulter, p. 8.] Important research was being conducted in agricultural technology at land grant universities. Of special interest was George Washington Carver, director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute. He did pioneering research finding new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, making important progress in diversify southern agriculture (1900s). Congress passed the Reclamation Act facilitating irrigation projects (1902). Another major milestone was Congress passing the Food and Drug Act, committing the Federal Government to badly needed action in food safety (1906). President Roosevelt established a Country Life Commission which began to assess many rural issues (1908). At the beginning of the decade, the farmer was still dependent on horse power. There had been considerable mechanization , but mostly still with horsepower. A virtually unknown automobile manufacturer, Henry Ford, began producing the Model-T Ford Tin Lizzie (1908). It was a game changer, he designed a car the average worker could afford and then mass produced it. American was already the greatest industrial power on earth, the automobile turned America into an industrial giant far beyond the output of the major European powers. There would was, however, very significant consequence for rural America. Motorized cars, trucks, and tractors began replacing horses leading to a huge increase in productivity. This would significantly increase the productivity of the American farmer. The automobile would significant reduced the isolation of rural America significantly increasing mobility.

American Production

America by the turn of the 20th century had become the most important industrial power in the world. Sometimes forgotton in the rise of American industrial power is American agriculture. America was also the leading producer of agricultural commodities. Unlike other great industrial powers (Britain, Germany, and Japan), America was not only self sufficent in food production, but a food exporter. And unlike the Sovietv Union, American agrciculture was a vbrant part f he national econonomy. These are phenomenon that would play a huge role in the 20th cenury. And despite the rapidly expanding industry, most Americans inthe 1900s still lived on farms and in rural areas. For most countries developments on farms had little impact on other countries, even neighboring countries. Not so America. America is an exceptional country which the Europeans already knew. Thus is why millions of Europeans came to America. What the Europeans did not know at the beginning of the decade was that American farmers would save millions of lives throughout the continent.

Area Under Cultivation

American agriculture expanded in the 19th century primarily by expanding the area of land under cultivation. This had made America, the leding agriculturalmproducer in the world. By 1900, howeever, the huge increases was coming to an end. he land under cultivator increased 5 percent in the 1900s. [U.S. Census, 1910.] This was, however, was relatively small increase compared to the 19th century decades.

Malthusian Concerns

There was concern that population was increasing faster than food production, but developments in the 1900s would radically increase productivity. The problem the American farmer would face in the 20th century would be over production.

Productivity

From now on increased agricultural production would have to come from improved productivity. Some of this could come from increased improvement and cropping. [Coulter, p. 8.] Important research was being conducted in agricultural technology at land grant universities. Of special interest was George Washington Carver, director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute. He did pioneering research finding new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, making important progress in diversify southern agriculture (1900s). Congress passed the Reclamation Act facilitating irrigation projects (1902). Another major milestone was Congress passing the Food and Drug Act, committing the Federal Government to badly needed action in food safety (1906). President Roosevelt established a Country Life Commission which began to assess many rural issues (1908).

Power

At the beginning of the decade, the farmer was still dependent on horse power. Horses were still very important to the American farmer. There had been considerable mechanization , but mostly still with horsepower. A virtually unknown automobile manufacturer, Henry Ford, began producing the Model-T Ford Tin Lizzie (1908). It would be a game changer. The mathamaruics in astonishing. Think about it. A farm might have say four horses. That mean he was working with 4 horsepoower. The Ford Model-T had 20 horsepower. That mean that the American farmer upon acquiring a Model-T had four time the power at his disposal. And farmers very vquickly began putting that power to use. American farmswere already incredablt productive becuse of area, reserch support, and mecgization. The inceased power availble siginificalky increased productivity. At first Frd's Model-T primarily transportation, but in the 1910s tractors began appearing. Tractors were a major interest to Ford. Ford designed a car the average worker and frmer could afford and then mass produced it. American was already the greatest industrial power on earth, the automobile turned America into an industrial giant far beyond the output of the major European powers. There would was, however, very significant consequence for rural America. Motorized cars, trucks, and tractors began replacing horses leading to a huge increase in productivity. This would significantly increase the productivity of the American farmer. The automobile would significant reduced the isolation of rural America significantly increasing mobility. American cities were elecrifying. merican farms only began electrifying as a result of the New Deal (1930s)

Sources

Coulter, J.L. "Agricultural developmnt in the United States," The Quarterly Journals of Economics Vol. 27, No. 1 (November 1912), pp. 26.

Created: 4:42 AM 8/24/2021
Last updated: 9:20 AM 2/7/2025