Final answer:
American farmers faced problems after the Civil War due to high freight rates by railroad companies, price manipulation by commodity traders, and high levels of debt from financial institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problems faced by American farmers after the Civil War were caused by a combination of factors. One major problem was the exorbitant freight rates charged by railroad companies, which significantly increased the cost of transporting goods to market. Another problem was the manipulation of agricultural prices by commodity traders, leading to lower prices for farmers' products. Additionally, farmers were burdened with high levels of debt due to costly loans from financial institutions.