Reconstruction, Sharecropping, and the Failure of the Economic Recovery - Essay Example

The new system of sharecropping had to allow the freedmen to earn a good income and to move up the social and economic ladder; in reality, however, sharecropping pushed the blacks even further down the tenancy structure, turning them into the outcasts of their freedom.

In the years following the end of the Civil War, sharecropping and tenancy turned into the way of life for thousands of black freedmen (Conrad 34). The number of sharecroppers grew alarmingly, and sharecropping gave black people some hope to re-arrange their lives, improve their social status, and provide themselves with the basic means of living. To some extent, sharecropping was an effective means to involve the black people in the most important economic processes (i.e. agricultural production): in sharecropping, plantation owners would provide the freedman with a small tract of land, food, and the necessary equipment (Norton et al. 40). Once harvested, the crop would be brought to the market and after deducting the costs, the sharecropper would be given half of the profit (Manes 84).

Certainly, sharecropping was an excellent way for freedmen to earn their income and work to improve the country’s economy. Unfortunately, only a few sharecroppers were able to improve their social position.
More often than not, sharecropping pushed the blacks even further down the social ladder. The new system of sharecropping had to allow the freedmen to earn a good income and to move up the social and economic ladder, however, the position of black people became worse and they did not get any new opportunities to improve their standard of living. Black people cherished a hope that the Reconstruction means the beginning of their new good life and would allow them to re-establish themselves in the new American society.

Due to the bad living conditions and little opportunity to get an education, many of them lacked the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their resources and profits successfully. Some sharecroppers lost their lands and farms, trying to deal with the ever-growing costs of agricultural production (Franklin 22). Ill health, laziness, and low cotton prices added their share of complexity to the situation (Franklin 23). In 1864, a pound of cotton cost a little more than 10 cents, which made it virtually impossible for sharecroppers to earn any profits (Franklin 23). Most black farmers had to go deep into debt, to be able to make ends meet (Conrad 38). Read More