Question 1

Between 1870-1910, quantitative evidence shows very little, if any growth in bushels produced per acre for crops like corn and wheat. Which of the following statements correctly depicts the situation of farmers during this period?

Accepted Answer

A)   Although output per acre was not growing, increased labor productivity allowed farmers to earn profits.
B)   Farmers exited corn and wheat production due to lack of profits in these crops.
C)   Because output per acre was not growing, farmers were forced to produce corn and wheat on farms of 60 acres or less.
D)   Corn and wheat production became concentrated in the Great Lakes region, where small farms were common after the Civil War.

Question 2

According to Gary Libecap and Ronald Johnson, one positive outcome of the fraud that often allowed large companies to obtain land intended for homesteaders was

Accepted Answer

A)   fines charged to fraudulent companies provided substantial revenues for the federal government.
B)   resources were transferred to companies that could take advantage of economies of scale.
C)   conflicts between farmers and railroads were reduced.
D)   legislators friendly to economic development were elected because of backing from the fraudulent companies.

Question 3

In the late-19th century, farmers blamed their problems on a number of factors. Which of these complaints is supported (somewhat)  by quantitative evidence gathered by economic historians?

Accepted Answer

A)   Eastern bankers conspired to inflate interest rates on western farm mortgages.
B)   Manufacturers charged unreasonably high prices for farm equipment.
C)   Consumer goods prices were rising too rapidly.
D)   Certain sections of railroad were monopolized, resulting in unreasonably high freight rates.

Question 4

The first major step toward natural resource reform was

Accepted Answer

A)   the General Revision Act of 1891.
B)   the Commons Preservation Act of 1896.
C)   the Reclamation Act of 1902.
D)   the Snowden-Higgs Act of 1904.

Question 5

The first farm organization of importance was

Accepted Answer

A)   the Grangers.
B)   the Greenback Party.
C)   the Southern Alliance.
D)   The Populists.

Question 6

The rise in agricultural discontent in the late 19th century can be best explained by

Accepted Answer

A)   the rise of railroad cartels in the Midwest.
B)   the rise of global market forces not easily observed by the farmers.
C)   a decline in the value of agricultural exports from 1870 to 1900.
D)   predatory lending by banks, resulting in increased farm repossessions.

Question 7

What best describes what happens to the share of income spent on food as income increases?

Accepted Answer

A)   The share increases.
B)   The share decreases.
C)   The share stays the same.

Question 8

The Homestead Act was passed in 1862. However, only about 20 percent of newly-added farm land between 1870 and 1900 belonged to homesteads because

Accepted Answer

A)   Americans were more interested in moving to cities than to homesteads.
B)   the available land was best suited for grazing livestock, but 160-acre plots were too small to do so profitably.
C)   a treaty between the U.S. government and Native Americans prevented homesteaders from acquiring most of the land.
D)   homestead filing fees were gradually increased during this time period.

Question 9

The abrupt end of long distance cattle drives in 1885 was primarily due to

Accepted Answer

A)   the development of railroad cars that could haul cattle.
B)   organized efforts by northern cattlemen to reduce overstocking of cattle on the northern ranges.
C)   the advent of barbed wire fences.
D)   a reduced demand for beef in both domestic and export markets.

Question 10

The creation of National Forests under Theodore Roosevelt

Accepted Answer

A)   had no concrete practical impact.
B)   laid the foundation for Franklin D. Roosevelt to pursue conservation measures.
C)   placed 75 million acres of marketable timber under government stewardship.
D)   was the heart of early environmental preservationism.

Question 11

Recent research by Olmstead and Rhode (2002)  emphasizes the importance of _________________in explaining increased agricultural productivity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Accepted Answer

A)   "learning by doing"
B)   the movement from family farms to corporate farms
C)   better access to banks and financial capital
D)   biological and chemical innovations

Question 12

Members of the Populist Party supported

Accepted Answer

A)   government ownership of banks.
B)   government ownership of railroads.
C)   government-imposed anti-monopoly policies.
D)   government policies designed to encourage inflation.
E)   All of the above.

Question 13

Under the Dawes Act of 1887,

Accepted Answer

A)   nearly 100 million acres of Indian territories were opened for public purchase.
B)   "squatters" rights were legally recognized.
C)   substantial tracts of land were granted to western railroads.
D)   160 acres was granted to anyone who agreed to plant trees on at least 40 acres.

Question 14

Quantitative evidence on federal land policy has led current economic historians to conclude that

Accepted Answer

A)   the policy was inefficient and reduced total output.
B)   the policy was largely inefficient, with evidence of increased output only found on large farms.
C)   the Homestead Act allowed western farmers to enjoy rising agricultural prices for most of the post-bellum period.
D)   average rates of return on western agricultural investments were comparable to those in manufacturing.

Question 15

Between 1860 and 1920, the number of mouths fed per farmer

Accepted Answer

A)   decreased by about 10 percent.
B)   initially decreased, but then returned to its former level and remained there.
C)   increased by about 50 percent.
D)   nearly doubled.

Question 16

From the early 1860s to the early 1900s, the amount of land acquired by sales (including from railroads and states)  was _____ land obtained free through homesteading.

Accepted Answer

A)   roughly half as much as
B)   about the same as
C)   twice as much as
D)   triple the amount of

Question 17

Which of the following presidents is remembered for his role in championing American conservation legislation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Warren G. Harding
B)   Abraham Lincoln
C)   Ulysses S. Grant
D)   Theodore Roosevelt

Question 18

According to research by Richard Sylla and John James on western farm mortgage rates,

Accepted Answer

A)   real rates were lower than rates charged to eastern manufacturers.
B)   relatively high real rates were due to the monopoly power of eastern financiers.
C)   relatively high rates reflected high lending risks associated with agricultural loans.
D)   Farmers' nominal rates were high, but real rates were actually less than those charged for most loans.

Question 19

Quantitative analysis of relevant data show that economic problems for farmers in the last half of the 19th century included

Accepted Answer

A)   falling prices for wholesale farm products.
B)   rising real interest rates.
C)   rising prices for consumer goods.
D)   rising prices for farm equipment.
E)   All of the above.

Question 20

Worsening terms of trade can be offset by

Accepted Answer

A)   increased productivity.
B)   increased competition.
C)   reductions in domestic tariffs.
D)   increased property taxes.

Exam 15: Agricultures Western Advance

Members of the Populist Party supported

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The rise in agricultural discontent in the late 19th century can be best explained by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Quantitative analysis of relevant data show that economic problems for farmers in the last half of the 19th century included

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the late-19th century, farmers blamed their problems on a number of factors. Which of these complaints is supported (somewhat) by quantitative evidence gathered by economic historians?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to Gary Libecap and Ronald Johnson, one positive outcome of the fraud that often allowed large companies to obtain land intended for homesteaders was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first major step toward natural resource reform was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Between 1870-1910, quantitative evidence shows very little, if any growth in bushels produced per acre for crops like corn and wheat. Which of the following statements correctly depicts the situation of farmers during this period?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What best describes what happens to the share of income spent on food as income increases?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first farm organization of importance was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Recent research by Olmstead and Rhode (2002) emphasizes the importance of _________________in explaining increased agricultural productivity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under the Dawes Act of 1887,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Between 1860 and 1920, the number of mouths fed per farmer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The creation of National Forests under Theodore Roosevelt

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following presidents is remembered for his role in championing American conservation legislation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to research by Richard Sylla and John James on western farm mortgage rates,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The abrupt end of long distance cattle drives in 1885 was primarily due to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Worsening terms of trade can be offset by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Homestead Act was passed in 1862. However, only about 20 percent of newly-added farm land between 1870 and 1900 belonged to homesteads because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From the early 1860s to the early 1900s, the amount of land acquired by sales (including from railroads and states) was _____ land obtained free through homesteading.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Quantitative evidence on federal land policy has led current economic historians to conclude that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Quantitative analysis of relevant data show that economic problems for farmers in the last half of the 19^th century included

Correct Answer
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In the late-19^th century, farmers blamed their problems on a number of factors. Which of these complaints is supported (somewhat) by quantitative evidence gathered by economic historians?

Correct Answer
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Recent research by Olmstead and Rhode (2002) emphasizes the importance of _________________in explaining increased agricultural productivity in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Correct Answer
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