Sharecropping, Tenant Farming, & The Freedman’s Bureau

Wednesday, January 27th

Background: Economic Problems for Former Slaves

Slaves had not really been able to make an income. Some could make a little bit, but hardly any had real savings.

Slaves didn’t need money- they usually got the basic needs in life from their masters.

After they were freed, former slaves obviously needed some way to make money and support themselves.

Problems:

Lack of jobs- former slaves competed with poor whites for jobs

Lack of money- former slaves could not buy land that would allow them to grow and sell crops

Racism and unfair treatment by whites- former slaves were still treated as second-class citizens.

The majority of slaves lacked skills to get many jobs outside of manual labor.

Problem #1: Lack of Land

It was difficult for slaves to own land in the South due to continued mistreatment by whites

Former slaves did not have the money to buy land

Without their own land, they could not produce crops, which they would then sell for money

Attempted Solution #1: Tenant Farming

Tenant Farming is…

When a person (freed slave or poor white) would work a piece of land that they didn’t own

Planters would divide their land into small plots and rent them to freed slaves and poor whites

Rent could be paid in either money or crops. This was bad because the tenant (person renting the land) had to pay in crops. If there was nothing left after the rent was paid, the tenant would not make any money

Attempted Solution #2: Share-Cropping

This was a form of tenant farming

Black and white landless farmers tried to earn money in order to buy land.

They rented land, grew crops, and the would sell them.

Rent on the land was paid in crops. They would SHARE the CROPS with the person who owned the land.

Problem #2: Rights for Slaves

Obviously, former slaves were not treated fairly in society.

They were still denied basic rights due to racism and other factors in society.

There needed to be some way that they could get things like: education, medical care, jobs, and other basic necessities.

Attempted Solution #2: The Freedmen’s Bureau

This was a government agency set up to help freed slaves “get on their feet”

It provided things like medical care, food, shelter, and education

It still did not address the lack of farm land, but it did become a place where former slaves could go if they needed help adjusting to their new role in society

Independent Assignment: Choose

One: Create an

advertisement for the Freedman’s Bureau. Be sure to include:

1. What it does for former slaves.

2. Why former slaves may go to it for help.

3. Why this was a good government program during Reconstruction.

Write a letter as though you are a share-cropper. Explain:

1. What you do on a daily basis.

2. How you came to work on the land.

3. The relationship you have with your land-owner.

4. How you pay your rent!