Sharecropping

Near the end of the Civil War,the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment which ended slavery caused a great downfall in the economy of the South. The loss of slave labor led to now impoverished Southereners wondering how they would replace their main source of labor. Many changes were made to maintain economical balance, however it was heavily debated whether or not these changes were beneficial to Southern society.
 * Reconstruction: Economic Success Or Failure?**

In Favor of Economic Changes
 * Former slaves increased land ownership by asmuch as 744% in the 1860's
 * Formerslavesengaged in sharecropping, which increased income, capital, and independnce form white control.
 * Sharp increase in urban propertyowners in the 1860's.

Against Economic Chnages
 * Blacks had limited emplyment opportunities
 * Former slaves found it difficult to fully participate in souyther society
 * Black Codes forbade blacks from entering anything other than agricultural emplyment
 * Laws were made to keep blacks a propertless,rural, laboring class.
 * Sharecropping led to works being in massive amounts of debt, as well as being trapped on the plantation until all debt is paid off.

I believe that even after the Reconstruction the economy still suffered. Considering the fact that there were very few equal job opportunies for African Americans, and that in order to retain economic stability, past slaveowners had to resprt to sharecropping and being trapped on a farm untill alldebt copuld be paid off.