What does the term “Sharecropping” refer to?

The term “Sharecropping” refers specifically to a system where farmers—often former slaves or their descendants—work land owned by someone else in exchange for a share of the crops produced. This system emerged in the Southern United States after the Civil War, when many freedmen and poor landless whites were seeking ways to sustain themselves. Under sharecropping agreements, the landowner would provide the land, tools, and sometimes seed, while the sharecropper would cultivate the crop. At harvest time, the crops would be divided between the landowner and the sharecropper, typically with a significant portion going to the landowner.

This method was seen as a compromise for both parties; landowners maintained control of their land while sharecroppers earned a living. However, the system often led to cycles of debt and poverty for the sharecroppers because they frequently had to borrow money for supplies and tools, with the expectation of paying off such debts with their share of the crop. Thus, while they had a stake in the crop, the imbalance of power and economic control made it challenging for many sharecroppers to improve their financial conditions.