A History of American Agriculture: Life on the Farm

17th century
Farmers endure rough pioneer life while adapting to new environment

18th century
Ideas of progress, human perfectibility, rationality, and scientific improvement flourish in the New World; small family farms predominate, except for plantations in southern coastal areas; housing ranges from crude log cabins to substantial frame, brick, or stone houses; farm families manufacture many necessities

1810-30
Transfer of manufactures from the farm and home to the shop and factory is greatly accelerated

1840-60
Growth in manufacturing brings many labor-saving devices to the farm home; rural housing improves with balloon-frame construction
1844
Success of the telegraph revolutionizes communications
1845
Mail volume increases as postage rate is lowered

1860s

Kerosene lamps become popular

1865-90

Sod houses common on the prairies

1895
George B. Seldon is granted U.S. patent for automobile
1896
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) started

1900-20
Urban influences on rural life intensify
1908
Model T Ford paves way for mass production of automobiles; President Roosevelt's Country Life Commission focuses attention on the problems of farm wives and difficulty of keeping children on the farm
1908-17
Country-life movement

1920s
Movie houses become common in rural areas
1921
Radio broadcasts begin

1930

13% of all farms have electricity

1936

Rural Electrification Act (REA) greatly

improves quality of rural life

1940
58% of all farms have cars; 25% have phones; 33% have electricity

1950s
Television widely accepted; many rural areas lose population as farm family members seek outside work
1954
70.9% of all farms have cars; 49% have phones; 93% have electricity;Social Security coverage extended to farm operators