Agricultural discontent in the Middle West, 1900-1939

the long version

The authors trace the tumultuous course of the farm movement through the inflation of World War I, the subsequent depression of the early twenties, and the Great Depression of the thirties to the outbreak of World War II. From the soil prepared by the Populists sprang numerous organizations, all having the same purpose: to bring more equitable returns to the farmer. One of these was the Nonpartisan League, which ultimately merged with the Farmer-Laborites, Progressives, and Liberals. The American Farm Bureau Federation was organized in an attempt to bring rival farm groups into one major body, but there was much disagreement over objectives and means. Among the prescriptions for the ills of agriculture were the McNary-Haugen proposals, calling for "cost production plus reasonable profit," and the Hoover farm program, bitterly opposed by conservative business agencies and alienated farm groups alike. The failure of all schemes to bring relief resulted in the 1932 Farm Strike, which culminated in a melodramatic outburst of violence. Finally came the New Deal farm program, which temporarily quieted the fears of farmers.