What were farmers' alliances primarily formed for by 1890?

Farmers' alliances were primarily formed as a response to the economic challenges faced by farmers in the late 19th century. By 1890, these alliances focused on serving the needs of farmers through education, cooperative efforts, and political action. The alliances aimed to address issues such as crop prices, rising debt, and a lack of access to markets.

They organized meetings, created cooperatives to bypass middlemen, and engaged in political advocacy to secure measures that would benefit farmers, such as currency reform and the regulation of railroads. This grassroots movement mobilized farmers to collectively voice their grievances and sought to empower them politically, which was crucial during a time when their economic conditions were precarious. The emphasis on education also reflected a desire among farmers to understand the market forces affecting their livelihoods and to develop strategies for improving their situations.

In contrast, the other options don't align as directly with the primary goals of the farmers’ alliances. While increasing prices of crops was certainly a concern, it was more a result of their advocacy rather than a foundational aim of the alliances. Declining imports and establishing large corporate farms did not accurately reflect the grassroots and community-focused nature of the alliances, which were fundamentally about empowering individual and small-scale farmers rather than promoting