ID: Sharecropping
When: Post-Civil War (1865-1900)
Who:
- Former slaves
- White landowners
What:
A system of agriculture in which landowners provided land, seed, and tools to tenants, who in return paid a portion of their crop to the landowner. This system often trapped former slaves in a cycle of debt, as they rarely had the resources to purchase their own land.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Economic Dependence: Sharecropping perpetuated a cycle of poverty and economic dependence for former slaves, hindering their ability to achieve true economic freedom.
- Social Stratification: It reinforced existing social and racial hierarchies, limiting opportunities for African Americans and perpetuating white supremacy.
- Political Disenfranchisement: The lack of economic independence contributed to the disenfranchisement of African Americans, making it harder for them to participate in the political process and fight for their rights.
- Legacy of Inequality: The legacy of sharecropping continues to affect the economic and social disparities between blacks and whites in the South today.