English settlers main hope was to gain land in the new world that they could use for farming. This would enable them to make money from selling crops. They would then pass the land to their sons keeping the family prosperous.
There were other settlers that left to escape persecution (mostly religious persecution).
No, it is false that independence from railroads and banks is one way that farming in the United States changed in the late 1800s, since in fact farming became more attached to these industries during this time.
