By the late 1800s, farmers in the south and Midwest hasn't lost a great deal of their political power. How did this happen?
What? They hasn't lost...? Should they have lost political power but didn't? I don't understand your question at all. It's also grammatically incorrect. It should be "had not", not "has not"; it should be past tense when talking about things in the past.
To understand how farmers in the South and Midwest managed to retain their political power by the late 1800s, we can look at a few key factors:
1. Agricultural Influence: Agriculture was a significant economic sector in both regions, and farmers constituted a large portion of the population. This gave them a natural advantage in terms of numbers and voter representation.
2. Formation of Agricultural Organizations: Farmers' organizations, such as the Grange and Farmers' Alliances, were formed to articulate farmers' concerns and lobby for their interests. These organizations provided a platform for farmers to connect, share information, and advocate for policies beneficial to their livelihoods.
3. Populist Movement: The late 1800s saw the rise of the Populist movement, which gained popularity among farmers. The Populist Party, also known as the People's Party, advocated for progressive reforms that aimed to address the issues faced by farmers, such as railway regulation, currency reform, and the fight against monopolies.
4. Political Mobilization: Farmers actively engaged in political activism, organizing rallies, protests, and grassroots campaigns to raise awareness of their concerns. They would form alliances with other groups, such as organized labor, to increase their political influence and support.
5. Influence Through Voting Power: Farmers had a significant presence in the rural areas of the South and Midwest, and their influence was further amplified through the electoral system. Due to the rural bias in the apportionment of legislative districts, areas with smaller populations would often receive more representation than urban areas. This further empowered the farming communities.
Overall, the retention of political power by farmers in the South and Midwest during the late 1800s was a result of their numerical strength, the formation of agricultural organizations, the rise of the Populist movement, their political mobilization, and the distribution of legislative representation.