Question

5 why do you think many poor farmers preferred sharecropping to simply being paid to work another persons land?
6 how did sharecropping work?
7 how did sharecropping often lead the poor farmers into debt with the land owners?
8 what factors would eventually end sharecropping in the united states?

Explanation:

1. Sharecropping offered a chance for poor farmers to have a livelihood and access to land when they had no other means. They could grow crops and potentially earn more than a fixed - wage laborer, and it gave them a sense of independence in farming.
2. In sharecropping, a landowner provided land, tools, and sometimes seeds to a farmer (the sharecropper). The sharecropper worked the land, and at harvest time, a pre - arranged portion of the crops (usually a significant share like half or more) went to the landowner as rent or payment for the resources provided.
3. Sharecroppers often had to borrow from landowners for supplies like fertilizer, more seeds, or living expenses during the growing season. If the crop yield was low due to bad weather, pests, or other factors, they might not be able to pay back what they owed, leading to debt. Also, landowners sometimes set unfair terms for repayment or inflated prices for supplies.
4. Industrialization and urbanization led to more job opportunities in cities, drawing people away from sharecropping. Technological advancements in farming made large - scale, mechanized farming more efficient, reducing the need for sharecropping labor. Government policies and social changes also contributed to its decline.

Answer:

1. Sharecropping offered a chance at a livelihood and some independence in farming for poor farmers with limited options.
2. Landowners provided land and resources, and sharecroppers gave a portion of the harvest as payment.
3. Sharecroppers' need to borrow, low crop yields, and unfair landowner terms led to debt.
4. Industrialization, urbanization, technological farming advancements, and government/social changes ended sharecropping in the US.