What was the crop Lein system?

Answer 1

The crop lien system was a credit system used in the Southern United States during the late 19th century, particularly after the Civil War. It allowed sharecroppers and tenant farmers to obtain supplies and equipment from landowners or merchants on credit, using their future crop yields as collateral. This system often led to a cycle of debt and economic dependency, as farmers struggled to pay off their debts and faced high interest rates, trapping many in poverty. The crop lien system played a significant role in the agricultural economy of the South during Reconstruction and beyond.