Question

Why did farmers blame the banks and railroads for their economic problems

Answer 1

Many farmers were detractors of the establishment of banks and railroads, which were crucial and visible drivers of the economic progress in the country.

Farmers were suffering some times of hardship and they believed that, on one hand, railroad companies were taking over their lands and decreasing the amount of their harvests and also that banks were attracting and funding different types of businesses and economic activities that were the causes of their miseries, as the economic focus in general was shifting to them and investments on agricultural activities were severly affected.

These farmers could not see at first the big opportunities that these developments could bring to the agricultural sector. For instance, the accesibility to the railroad system would enhance the possibilities of trade of agricultural products, that could be supplied all over the country. Moreover, the banking system could offer farmers funding to expand their exploitations and to develop means to increase their productivity,enabling them to make profit from commerce activities in much bigger national-wide markets.