Praxis II Elementary Education Social Studies (5904) Practice Test

Think about how markets set prices from supply and demand. In the late 1800s, farmers greatly increased production thanks to better equipment, more land, and cheaper transportation, so the overall supply of farm goods rose a lot. Demand from urban centers did grow, but it didn’t rise fast enough to absorb all the extra produce. That created a surplus, or glut, of crops, which drives prices down. So the main reason prices fell was overproduction.

If demand had risen faster, prices could have stayed higher. Tariffs on farm products would tend to protect domestic prices rather than cause a decline, and while unusually good weather could temporarily increase yields and lower prices, the sustained trend was driven by the large increase in supply.