"The railroad corporations have control of the legislatures, of the congress, and of the courts... They dictate the price of every bushel of wheat we raise and every pound of beef we produce. We are no longer free men; we are vassals of a corporate empire."
— Minnesota farmer, letter to *The Farmers' Union*, 1874
Which of the following developments in the late nineteenth century most directly contributed to the conditions described in the excerpt?
- AThe passage of federal legislation aimed at protecting and expanding communal Native American tribal landholdings.
- The growing integration of western agriculture into national markets and the subsequent reliance on monopolistic transportation networks.Answer
- CThe withdrawal of federal government subsidies and land grants, which forced railway companies to operate under strict laissez-faire conditions.
- DThe emergence of urban, middle-class progressive reformers who advocated for the immediate abolition of all private corporate charters.
Answer
The correct answer is the option describing the growing integration of western agriculture into national markets and the subsequent reliance on monopolistic transportation networks.
The correct option is correct because the expansion of railroad networks in the late nineteenth century integrated western agriculture into a national market. While this allowed farmers to ship their goods to distant buyers, it also made them entirely dependent on railroad monopolies. These corporations used their power to charge high, discriminatory freight rates, which severely reduced farmers' profits and led to widespread economic distress.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Westward Expansion: Economic and Social Development