Social Studies Praxis Practice Test

What economic system became prevalent in the South after the Civil War among landowning farmers and poor laborers?

1. Sharecropping

2. Industrialization

3. Tenant farming

4. Agricultural cooperatives

The correct answer is: Sharecropping

The economic system that became prevalent in the South after the Civil War among landowning farmers and poor laborers is sharecropping. This system emerged as a response to the labor shortage caused by the abolition of slavery and sought to provide a way for landowners to cultivate their fields while offering employment to those without land. Under sharecropping, landowners would provide land, tools, and seeds, while sharecroppers, often former enslaved individuals, would work the land and in return receive a share of the crop produced. This arrangement was particularly significant in the post-war South as it allowed former plantation owners to maintain their agricultural economy without relying on enslaved labor, while also providing a means of subsistence for poor laborers who had limited resources. However, sharecropping often resulted in a cycle of debt and poverty due to exploitative practices, where sharecroppers found themselves indebted to landowners and unable to improve their economic conditions. This system thus became a defining feature of the rural Southern economy during the Reconstruction era and well into the 20th century. In contrast, industrialization did not primarily occur in the South until much later, tenant farming involved different agreements that allowed farmers to pay rent for land without sharing the crop, and