Sharecrop: meaning, definitions and examples
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sharecrop
[ ˈʃɛrˌkrɒp ]
farming arrangement
To sharecrop is to farm land that is owned by another person, where the sharecropper is allowed to cultivate the land in exchange for a share of the crops produced. This arrangement often arises in systems where landowners need labor to produce crops but lack the means to cultivate the land themselves. Sharecropping was particularly common in the southern United States after the Civil War, as a means for former slaves and poor white farmers to earn a living. However, these agreements often led to cycles of debt and poverty for sharecroppers, limiting their economic mobility.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Many families were forced to sharecrop after losing their land.
- Sharecropping became a common practice in the post-Civil War South.
- She decided to sharecrop a small plot of land to support her family.
agricultural practice
Sharecropping refers to the system of agriculture where a tenant farmer works a portion of land owned by someone else in return for a share of the crop produced, rather than paying rent in cash. This practice allows landowners to keep their land farmed without directly hiring laborers. The sharecropper gets to work the land and receives a portion of the harvest, often leading to disputes over the amount owed to the landowner. This system was a significant part of the agricultural economy in many regions, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Synonyms
crop-lien system, tenant farming.
Examples of usage
- Sharecropping defined the agricultural landscape of the South.
- The sharecropper's life was often fraught with challenges and hardships.
- Many sharecroppers struggled to break free from their contracts.
Translations
Translations of the word "sharecrop" in other languages:
🇵🇹 arrendatário
🇮🇳 साझा फसल
🇩🇪 Pacht
🇮🇩 petani sharecrop
🇺🇦 орендар
🇵🇱 dzierżawca
🇯🇵 シェアクロッピング
🇫🇷 partage de récolte
🇪🇸 arrendatario
🇹🇷 paylaşım tarımı
🇰🇷 쉐어크롭
🇸🇦 مزارع مشترك
🇨🇿 nájemce
🇸🇰 nájomník
🇨🇳 分成农民
🇸🇮 delilni kmet
🇮🇸 deiliskipulag
🇰🇿 жалға алушы
🇬🇪 პირველი შრომა
🇦🇿 şərikli fermer
🇲🇽 arrendatario
Etymology
The term 'sharecrop' originates from the early 20th century, combining the notion of sharing with the practice of cropping. The practice itself can be traced back even earlier, particularly in its prominence after the Civil War in the United States, when many formerly enslaved individuals sought to gain autonomy over their work. The system provided a means for landowners to maintain production despite the loss of their enslaved workforce and allowed laborers to earn a living through their agricultural efforts. However, sharecropping often placed farmers in a cycle of debt due to high-interest rates on loans for seeds and tools, leading to economic struggles and perpetuating poverty in agricultural communities. The historical context of sharecropping reveals much about race relations, economic systems, and the struggles for independence and equity in the agrarian South.