Changes in Rural society

from about 1800 until 1850 life for rural families changed drastically throughout europe. " growing importance of commercial farming and growing role of merchants and other " capitalists" in agriculutral trade, which put added pressure on peasants and small-scale farmers. growing internalization of grain trade (made more profitable by railroads and steamships) leds to trend of falling grain prices, which put pressure on peasants and small-scale farmers. problems of rural overcrowding and rural poverty ( which fed into urban growth.) efforts of national/state governments to " transform" rural populations through education and increased contact with the state." ( http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/hickey/scial%20change%20and%20politics%20in%20early%201800s.htm)