Sharecropping, the New Slavery
In Sharecropping, the New Slavery, historian Lucy Worsley discusses how people freed from enslavement were in debt to their landlords, often former slave owners. They found it difficult to pay off their debts and even harder to move away. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
Lesson Express
Q: Describe some of the systems that were put in place to limit the freedom of African Americans after the Civil War.
A: Sharecropping was one of the most common systems, which trapped many African Americans in cycles of debt and poverty. Additionally, Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws restricted their rights, preventing them from voting, owning land, or moving freely. These laws and systems were designed to maintain white supremacy and economic control over the newly freed population.
Q: Why do you think these laws were put in place?
A: Despite the legal abolition of slavery, many Southern leaders sought to maintain control over African Americans through laws that restricted their rights. These laws, like the Black Codes, were designed to limit economic mobility, prevent political participation, and enforce racial segregation. The laws were meant to protect the power structure and economic system that depended on cheap labor and racial subjugation, ensuring that African Americans would remain in a position of dependence and inequality even after slavery was abolished.
Q: What systems in place today limit the freedoms of African Americans?
A: While legal segregation and slavery have ended, there are still policies and practices today that limit the opportunities of African Americans. For example, systemic racism in areas like education, housing, and criminal justice continues to affect many African Americans' access to resources and opportunities. Issues like racial profiling, income inequality, and voter suppression can also act as barriers, preventing full equality for all citizens.
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