(Module 36) The Second Agricultral Revolution

What is the Second Agricultural Revolution?

A period that brought improved methods of cultivation, harvesting, and storage of farm produce that began in the late 1600s and continued through the 1930s.

What is a Seed Drill?

A machine for planting seeds in a row, pulled by horses or oxen, which sows seeds into newly dug rows.

What is a Scythe?

An agricultural hand tool with a curved blade used for cutting grain in the fields.

What is a Mechanical Reaper?

A machine used to harvest grain crops mechanically; patented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831.

What is a Tractor?

Early tractors in the mid-nineteenth century were steam-powered and heavy, transitioning to internal combustion engines in the late-nineteenth century.

How did Railroads impact agriculture?

Railroads made it cheaper to transport produce and grain crops from farms to markets and ports, and allowed farmers to haul equipment and livestock.

What are Agrichemicals?

Chemical compounds obtained from petroleum and natural gas for use in agriculture, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

What are Synthetic Fertilizers?

Industrially manufactured nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium made from petroleum by-products, with higher concentrations of nutrients than natural fertilizers.

What are Pesticides?

Materials used to kill or repel animals or insects that can damage, destroy, or inhibit crop growth.

What are Herbicides?

Pesticides designed to kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted plants (weeds) that compete with crops.

What is the impact of better diets from the Second Agricultural Revolution?

Better diets resulted in increased populations and increased rural-to-urban migration.

What economic shift occurred due to the Second Agricultural Revolution?

A shift from primarily subsistence farming to the production of cash crops, leading to the rise of major corporations over smaller family farms.

What happened to women's roles in agriculture during this period?

Individual farm women lost their roles in local economies due to rural-to-urban migration and the demand for factory jobs.

What is Nutrient Pollution?

The consequence of overuse of fertilizer, occurring when excess nutrients seep into groundwater or runoff into rivers.

What does Runoff mean?

The flow of rain or irrigation water over land.