1. GROWTH OF COTTON IN TEXAS

2. Producing crops for sale
COMMERCIAL FARMING
Producing crops for sale

3. Cotton: The King of Texas Crops
Cotton Demands Time and Resources
The expansion of the railroad system provided more opportunities for Texas farmers to respond to the nation’s and the world’s demand for cotton.
Railroad = From Subsistence -> To commercial farming
From Making home goods -> To buying goods at store/market
This information comes from Chapter 18 section 3 in the textbook if you need more background information.
Student Notes:
Positive
- Commercial farming increased
-buying goods at stores

4. MANUFACTORING
Producing goods either by hand or with machines for sale in large numbers

5. Cotton demands Time and Resources
Store bought material -> an increase in manufacturing -> growth of cities
Flour mills and gristmills also increased, making them the leading industries in Texas.
Houston and Dallas became major manufacturing centers.
Industrial growth provided services for farmers and jobs to city workers
Positive:
-Increase in manufacturing helps grow cities
-Industrialization provides jobs

6. The practice of renting the land on which one lives and farms
TENANT FARMING
The practice of renting the land on which one lives and farms

7. SHARECROPPER
A tenant farmer who receives a share of the value of the crop, minus charges for rent and other expenses

8. Cotton Towns Thrive Commercial farming drew thousands of immigrants
Many sharecroppers or tenant farmers
Positive:
-commercial farming increase in population (immigrants)
Negative:
-increase sharecroppers or tenant farmers

9. Cotton Culture Emerges
Cotton was king!
Activities were planned around the cotton season.
Spring season- Cotton Planted
Summer- Cultivation
Late August- Harvesting
Religious meetings, elections, weddings, and other social activities were planned around cotton.
Positive:
-social activities revolve around the cotton calendar

10. Cotton Culture Emerges
If little cotton was produced, everyone felt the effects.
Boll Weevil
Weather made cotton prices were unpredictable
Bad season led farmers to borrow money.
Negative:
-if little cotton produced, everyone felt the effects
-weather made cotton prices unpredicatable

11. CREDIT
An agreement in which a buyer is allowed to pay over a period of time, usually with interest or fees added

12. CYCLE OF POVERTY Remainder is not enough to buy seed for next year
Farmers buy on credit
Remainder is not enough to buy seed for next year
Farmers plant next year’s crop
-Students complete chart on their notes
Farmers pay landowners with profit