Question

Why did many farmers go into debt in the late 1800s?

A. They took out loans to invest in new industries because agriculture was declining.
B. They took loans out to diversify their crops because consumers demanded new varieties of produce.
C. They took out loans to build roads to bring their produce to distant cities.
D. They took out loans on the value of their farms to pay the increased costs for new machines and other supplies

Answer 1

The correct answer is
D. They took out loans on the value of their farms to pay the increased costs for new machines and other supplies

They couldn't pay it back after because the seasons were not the best and the banks and railroad companies were taking away their land and punishing them for debt. This is why the populist party gained power because it wanted to protect the farmers from capitalist companies.