Final answer:
American farmers in the late 1800s responded to challenges such as overproduction and debt by organizing into farmers' groups, akin to labor unions. Despite technical advancements that increased production, these ultimately led to oversupply and further price declines. Post-World War I, their struggle continued, culminating in the agricultural depression of the 1920s and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to immense challenges during the mid to late 1800s, American farmers organized collectively to address their economic woes. They faced overproduction, low prices due to foreign competition, high tariffs, and soaring debt due to reliance on costly goods and services, like those from railroads. Technological advancements such as gasoline-powered tools and innovations like James Oliver's chilled plow, enabled expansion of production but also led to overproduction, exacerbating the drop in commodity prices.
Farmers' organizations developed as a form of early labor union, presenting a unified voice to lobby for change in political and economic practices. Large commercial farms known as "bonanza farms" experienced some success; however, small family farms usually faced greater struggles. The situation became dire in the years following World War I, as excess production led to even further price decreases and a devastating agricultural depression during the 1920s, culminating in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.