What was the major cause of problems with the sharecropping system?
A-farmers continual debt
B-lack of fertile land
C-insufficient livestock
D-fierce competition among farmers
A-farmers continual debt
The major cause of problems with the sharecropping system was A - farmers continual debt.
To understand why farmers' continual debt was the major cause of problems with the sharecropping system, we need to have a brief understanding of how sharecropping worked.
Sharecropping was an agricultural system that emerged in the United States after the Civil War, particularly in the South. Under this system, landowners would provide land, tools, and supplies to tenant farmers, who in turn would work the land and grow crops. At harvest time, the tenant farmers would give a share of the crops to the landowner as payment for the land and supplies, while keeping the rest for themselves.
The sharecropping system created several problems for farmers, with farmers' continual debt being the most significant issue. Here's why:
1. Lack of capital: Sharecroppers often lacked capital or initial resources to invest in their own tools, seeds, and fertilizer. They relied on the landowners for these necessities, who would then deduct their costs from the sharecroppers' portion of the crop. This created a cycle of indebtedness, as the tenant farmers struggled to pay off their debts and cover their basic needs.
2. High interest rates: Landowners would charge exorbitant interest rates on any outstanding debts, making it difficult for sharecroppers to ever fully repay what they owed. This further trapped them in a cycle of debt, making it nearly impossible to break free from the system.
3. Unfair crop division: In many cases, landowners would manipulate the system by weighing the crops disproportionately in their favor, effectively reducing the sharecroppers' portion. This further increased the debt burden on sharecroppers, as they couldn't produce enough to overcome their debts.
4. Overdependence on the land and limited options: Sharecroppers typically didn't have alternative options for employment or opportunities to own their own land. This made them reliant on the sharecropping system, even if the terms were unfavorable. Their lack of mobility kept them stuck in a perpetual cycle of debt.
Overall, the sharecropping system was inherently exploitative, trapping farmers in a cycle of indebtedness and preventing them from improving their economic welfare. The continual debt burden was the major cause of problems for sharecroppers, perpetuating a system of economic inequality and preventing upward mobility.