What was the impact of new farm equipment on urban Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

• A. It resulted in a decrease in the urban population as people moved back to rural areas.
• B. It made urban housing more expensive due to increased demand for farmland.
• C. It led to lower food prices in cities due to increased agricultural productivity.
• D. It caused widespread unemployment among urban factory workers.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by significant technological advancements in agriculture, including the introduction of new farm equipment.
2. Step 2: Recognize that new farm equipment increased agricultural productivity by allowing farmers to produce more food with less labor and in less time.
3. Step 3: Analyze the economic impact of increased agricultural productivity on urban areas, particularly focusing on how a greater supply of food affects food prices in cities.
4. Step 4: Connect the increase in food supply to the concept of supply and demand, where an increase in supply, assuming demand remains constant, typically leads to lower prices.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the introduction of new farm equipment led to lower food prices in urban areas, benefiting urban Americans by making food more affordable.