Most Farmers Are Never Morally Corrupt - Assignment Example

ASSIGNMENT 006 Why does Jefferson disagree with the widely accepted principle that every should manufacture the things it needs rather than importing them? This because, the circumstance in America do not favor local manufactures. He further compared asserted that goods manufactured in America are of poor quality as compared to those manufactured in Europe (Madison, p.2). 2. How does Jefferson explain what he takes as the fact that the most farmers are never Morally corrupt? Jefferson believes that most famers are not morally corrupt because they are chosen people of God who look up in heaven for God to bless their land and crops. In addition, famers toil hard from the soil to earn a genuine return (Madison, p.2) 3. Jefferson says tobacco farming produces “infinite wretchedness.” Why? Jefferson said this because tobacco farming requires very fertile land, high temperatures and high cost of in-puts which most famers may not afford. In addition, tobacco prices in the market are extremely low as compared to its cost of production and hence, leaving the famers at condition of “infinite wretchedness” (Madison, p.3). 4. How does wheat cultivation create “happiness”? Wheat farming does not require higher cost of input as compared to tobacco. In additions, it does not require very fertile soil and high temperatures as tobacco. Additionally, it provides famers with higher returns and abundance of food supply (Madison, pp.4-5). 5. What, for Madison, is the relationship between agriculture and civilization? According to Madison there is a strong correlation between agriculture and civilization. For example, in civilized nations like Japan and China, agriculture tends to prevail better inured to promote civilized life unlike in uncivilized nations. Whereby, in a civilized society the supply of food tends to increase spontaneously beyond the natural limits (Madison, pp.4-5). 6. What evidence does Madison offer to show that it is human nature to prefer the savage life to the civilized life? Madison gave example of how Indians who never avoided change. He further gave an example of American historians who hard a quest in understanding the origin of Americans Savage. Whereby, despite the challenges, the historian did not give up and hence, he was able to actualize his objective (Madison, pp.4-6). 7. What benefits to “savage” people seem to enjoy as a result of their “savage” life? Savage people tend to discover better things in life after going through savage life. In addition, they are able to learn better ways of doing things as well as ways of overcoming challenges in their lives (Madison, pp.4-7). 8. Once a society becomes agricultural, what force or forces make it continue that way? Some of the forces include; an increase in population as the number of mouths for feeding increases, decrease in supply of nature, acquisition of property among the members of population among other forces. 9. What, for Madison, limits the growth of plant and animal populations? Are humans different? According to Madison, lack of land productivity may limits plants and animal growth. In addition, humans are not different because they are part of that population. 10. In Madison’s estimate, how much greater could human population become if every spot on earth were cultivated? There will be approximate more than a hundred individuals in each and every spot and this could bring great epidemic. 11. What mistakes do American farmers make in managing their soil? Among the mistakes make in managing soil include: -Poor cultivation of the land. - Poor mode of ploughing of the land has made the fertile soil to be carried away by rains. -Failure to apply manure - Poor irrigation methods -utilization of oxen instead of horses -keeping of too many cattle tend to destroy the soil - cutting down of trees for timber and wood especially in rural areas. 12. Why do American farmers manage their soils so poorly? This is because; most famers may not afford the best methods, tools and inputs for cultivation. 13. What mistakes to American farmers make when ploughing and what problems do they Cause? American famers make the mistake of shallow ploughiong up and down. This mistake has caused the problem of exposing loosen soil which is in turn carried away by rains and hence, eroding the fertility of the land (Madison, p.9). 14. Why according to Madison, do American farmers neglect to fertilize their fields? According to Madison, American famers tend to neglect to fertilize their fields because they don’t apply both animals and plant manure. 15. What is the chief advantage of oxen over horses? Oxen are quit cheap to maintain and manage as compared to Horses. This is because Oxen can be fed from grass and hay while still plouphing. On the other hand, a horse requires corn which is very expensive top produce due to its high cost of labour and inputs. 16. What mistakes do American farmers make in managing their cattle? American famers make the mistake of keeping too many cattle’s than what the available land and resources can support. 17. Why do American farmers manage their soils so poorly? American famers manage their soil poorly because the cost of inputs tends to be substantially high as compared to other countries like Europe. Whereby, famers most of the famers can not afford the best methods, tools and inputs for cultivation. 18. What mistakes do American farmers make in managing their woodlots? They destroyed the woodlots when clearing the land for cultivation and settlement, despite the fact that trees takes quit longer growing maize corns. This has further degraded the soil and environment at large. 19. Why do American farmers manage their woodlots so poorly? This is because their aim is to get a place where they could to crops, as well as getting timber for fire wood, fencing and making farm apparatus. 20. Madison seems to think that farms in Europe and Asia are better maintained than ones in America. How does he explain this? Madison explains this by putting forth the argument that unlike America Land is cheap and is highly valued. In addition, he put forth the seven errors that Americans make when managing their soil as discussed in the chapter. Part Two According to Jefferson and Madison, there are various numerous ways in which the American environment shapes the American character. For example, Madison asserted that through farming American society was able to undergo via civilization as people try to investigate better methods of farming. According to Madison, the American had undergone via tremendous change, for example Americans had tried to adopt the Europeans character of producing and manufacturing their own products using their own inputs rather than importing goods from other countries. In addition, the cost of labor and input was substantially high in America as compared to Europe. This factor helped to shape the American character, making them to concentrate on farming rather than manufacturing (Madison, pp.2-3). Madison further asserted that Americans has a culture of producing hogsheads of tobacco till and in 1978, approximate 70,000hoghead of tobacco were exported by Americans to other countries. This culture of producing tobacco was changed by the environment after the world war. Whereby, the climate changed drastically, for instance the fertility of soil and high temperature that favored the growth of tobacco decline substantially. This forced numerous famers in America to adopt a new culture of cultivating wheat in order to obtain returns from their farming activities (Madison, pp.3-4).The change of American culture to wheat farming was of great advantage because; wheat could left behind herbage as well as preserve the fertility of the American soil. In addition, farming of wheat provided Americans with ample food supply unlike the times when they used to cultivate tobacco. In addition, their domestic animals had something to eat and this further led to increase productivity even to their animals. In above connection, Americans are generally inclined to be famer’s because the circumstance in America tends to favor farming. For instance, the topography and terrain promotes both livestock and crop farming. In addition, most of their ancestors were farmers and hence they tend to follow their trend. The Americans tends to be attractive famers because they understand exceptionally well what farming involves. They tend to have a passion and great interest in farming. This art has tends to be passed on from one generation to the other. In addition, their culture makes them even more attractive to farming. The early agriculture was sustainable overtime because the population was low and the land was very productive as compared today. Farmers could clear the bushed and cultivate crops which intern led to substantial yields in their firms (Madison, pp.4-14). In addition, the environment could maintain balance between the available resource and the population. Another aspects that shaped the American include; the American savage and the quest to learn better ways of farming. Whereby, after going numerous challenges in the agricultural practices, American were able to learn and discover tools as well as better methods of farming that changed society and the culture. In addition, Madison asserted that Americans should mentain fertility of the land by striking a balance between population and available resources. Whereby, proper cultivation methods and environmental conservation measures should be adopted (Madison, pp.6-14). Works Cited Madison.J. “Address to the Agricultural Society of Albemarle,” 1818, The Papers of James Madison Digital Edition, J. C. A. Stagg, editor. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2010.print. Read More