Sharecropping is a farming system that emerged in the Southern United States
following the Civil War.
It allowed landowners to rent out their land to tenant farmers,
often former slaves, who would then cultivate crops and
share a portion of their harvest with the landowner. While this system
provided an avenue for agricultural production and livelihood for many, it
also embedded deep economic and social challenges that sharecroppers faced
throughout history. Sharecropping became prevalent in the late
19th century as a response to both labor shortages and economic despair in
the post-war South.
Landowners were often unable to farm their properties due to financial
constraints or lack
of labor following emancipation. By offering land on a sharecropper basis,
they could
still utilize their property while providing work opportunities for those in
need.
However, this arrangement was fraught with difficulties from the start; many
sharecroppers
lacked access to capital and resources.
