Sharecropping Quiz

What was sharecropping?

• A system where workers were paid a fixed salary for their labor on the farms.

• A legal form of slavery where landowners provided land, tools, seeds, and money for food and supplies to very poor farmers in return for a share of the crop.

• A method of farming where farmers could buy their own land and work independently.

• A government program that allowed former slaves to own land without any conditions.

How did sharecropping keep workers in poverty?

• Workers were paid high wages that were not enough to cover their living expenses.

• Workers often incurred debts to the landowner that grew over time, preventing them from making a profit.

• Workers were able to sell their crops at any price they wanted, which often led to financial losses.

• Workers were given too much land to manage, leading to inefficient farming and poor crop yields.

Why would African Americans agree to sharecropping after enduring slavery?

• They were promised full ownership of the land after a certain period of sharecropping.

• Sharecropping was the only option available to them for making a living at the time.

• They were guaranteed a fixed income regardless of the crop yield.

• The government mandated all former slaves to participate in sharecropping.

By the late 1860s, who also became sharecroppers besides African Americans?

• European immigrants

• Wealthy landowners

• White farmers

• Government officials

What was one of the main reasons sharecropping was not beneficial to the workers?

• The workers were able to keep all the profits from the sale of the crop.

• The workers had to buy their own tools and seeds, which were very expensive.

• The workers were often charged high prices and typically gave half or less of the crop to the landowner.

• The workers had the resources to market their crops independently.

What impact did sharecropping have on the Southern economy after the Civil War?

• It significantly boosted the Southern economy by increasing agricultural productivity.

• It led to a diversified economy with less dependence on agriculture.

• It perpetuated a cycle of debt and poverty, hindering economic growth.

• It attracted foreign investments, leading to rapid industrialization.

How did the system of sharecropping affect the social structure in the South?

• It eliminated class distinctions, creating a more egalitarian society.

• It reinforced racial and economic hierarchies, maintaining social divisions.

• It encouraged social mobility by providing a pathway to land ownership.

• It led to widespread urbanization as people left farming for city jobs.

In what ways did sharecroppers try to overcome the challenges of the sharecropping system?

• By forming unions and demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

• By migrating to northern cities in search of industrial jobs.

• By saving earnings to buy their own land and tools for independent farming.

• By relying on government assistance programs designed to help rural farmers.