The Agricultural Industry Answers

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: First and foremost, tenants did not own land or the crops they grew in a sharecropping system. Tenants often were forced to hand their crops over to the landowner, who would sell the crops and share a small portion of the profits with the tenant. Secondly, tenants were at the mercy of the market. They often overproduced crops to try making a profit on their own, which contributed to overblown supplies and falling prices. Finally, tenants often struggled with failing crops, failing land, and poor weather. Faced with debt to their landowners, tenants would be pressured to overcome these challenges while sometimes making choices that made the problem worse.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Ranchers across the Great Plains began to raise cattle on small, enclosed lands because of the arrival of the railroad. As rails stretched across America, they provided greater access to markets. Longer cattle drives became unnecessary, and ranchers could avoid taking large herds on long drives over land. Ranchers also were helped by the invention of barbed wire. This simple tool allowed them to fence off their lands and protect grazing areas from other cattle drives.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: The dry, rolling plains of western and northern Oklahoma resembled Oklahoma’s neighboring states to the north. Like Kansas and Nebraska, this part of Oklahoma was best suited to growing wheat, a crop that grew particularly well during winters and could handle heat. In eastern Oklahoma, on the other hand, agriculture mimicked states to the east and south. Cotton was most popular because, even though it took constant maintenance to grow, it required little water.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: First, Oklahoma’s farmers often faced dynamic prices. These prices often dropped because of changes in demand. For example, cotton prices dropped greatly after World War I, thanks to lower demand and a constant supply. Second, farmers faced threats from pests that could destroy crops. The boll weevil threatened cotton crops across the South, destroying cotton bolls and ruining available supplies. Finally, farming was often an expensive endeavor. Wheat farmers in particular paid high prices for the equipment they needed; without this equipment, they could not harvest their crops quickly. Each of these factors made farming a challenging process during this time period.