1. The first of these groups, the small farmers, constituted a remarkably homogeneous class. The inland section was founded and recruited by mechanics, the poorer whites, and European (particularly Scotch-Irish) immigrants. It had peculiar social and political views arising from the crude nature of its environment. But its active political doctrines were derived from an antagonism to the seaboard groups. One source of conflict was connected with the possession of the land itself. Much of the western country had been taken up by speculators and the settlers were either squatters or purchasers from large holders. This is illustrated by the situation in Virginia, where. As Ambler points out, “liberality in granting her unoccupied lands did not prove to be good policy. True, large numbers of settlers were early attracted to the state. Where they made permanent homes. But much of the land fell into the state, where they made permanent homes. But much of the land fell into the hands of speculators. Companies were formed in Europe and America to deal in Virginia lands. Which were bought up in large tracts at the trifling cost of two cents per acre. This wholesale engrossment soon consumed practically all the most desirable lands and forced the home seeker to purchase from speculators or to settle as a squatter.” As the settler sought to escape from the speculator by moving westward, the frontier line of speculation advanced.
In addition to being frequently in debt for their lands, the small farmers were dependent upon the towns for most of the capital to develop their resources. They were, in other words, a large debtor class, to which must be added, of course, the urban dwellers who were in a like unfortunate condition.