I don't disagree with what you wrote, but... In industrialized countries a hundred years ago, 90% of the population were not farmers. You need to go back 50-10

I don't disagree with what you wrote, but... In industrialized countries a hundred years ago, 90% of the population were not farmers. You need to go back 50-100 years more for that. First link I found claims 30% of the population lived in farming communities in 1900: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_were_farmers_affected_by_industrialization_in_the_US http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_were_farmers_affected_by_indus... Edit: This seems to be quite official, claims 38% farmers in 1900, 69% 1840. http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/farmers_land.htm http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/farmers_land.htm (Sorry for nitpicking facts irrelevant for your argument.)