Sharecropping Simulation

Name: __________________________________________ Date: __________________

Sharecropping Worksheet
DIRECTIONS​: The purpose of this activity of this activity is to help you understand the struggles
and hardships encountered by sharecropping farmers.

Phase One:​ Review the definition of a sharecropper, the goal of sharecropping, and predict why
Freedmen and poor whites were willing to become sharecroppers.

Definition:

Sharecropper:​ A tenant farmer especially in the southern United States who is provided with
seeds, tools, living quarter, and food. They work on the land provided for them and receive a
share of profit made from the crops, minus what they owe the farmers for the provided
goods.

Goal of Sharecropping:

As a sharecropper, your main goal is to no longer be a sharecropper. You dream of making

enough money to rent your own land and eventually buy your own farm.

Predict:
Why would Freedmen and poor whites become sharecroppers?
Sharecropping Simulation

Phase Two:​ Family and Land- During the simulation, your group will become your
Sharecropping Family. Together you will all be struggling to earn enough money to leave
sharecropping.

1. What are the names of your sharecropping family?

2. Housing Assignments!
a. Look at the maps below. The map on the left shows where former slaves used to
work and live before the Civil War. Now that the war is over, they still live there
but under different circumstances. The plantation owner has assigned you a
house to live in and a plot of land to farm on.
b. Open your envelope to discover which house you live in and where you will plant
your crops

3. Read this silently:

In the post-Civil War era, many former slaves choose to stay on the plantation and
work the land in the role of a Sharecropper. You and your group are ready to begin
learning what it was like to be a Sharecropper. The farm will be growing cotton and
corn. The Sharecroppers have borrowed some money from the plantation owner to
pay for the first seed and use of tools. They are excited at the prospects of earning a
living as a free person and look forward to the day when they can earn enough money
to rent their own farm. Sharecroppers have to give over half your crop to the
plantation owner for use of land and fees.
Sharecropping Simulation

Phase 3:​ Growing crops and hoping for a profit- You and your family have established
yourselves as Sharecroppers on the plantation. During this phase, you will be attempting to
earn enough money to leave sharecropping.

You will keep track of your profits and losses as a Sharecropping family over a four-year period.
Use this chart to help you keep track.

Year Soil/Climate Debt Owed Profit Surprises Yearly Totals

Factor
(This (This is the (Roll the dice (Team pulls (Add each
depends on amount of once for each from the row to find
where your debt you year and surprise bag) the yearly
house is already owe follow the total)
situated on the directions in (WATCH OUT
the plantation the chart FOR
plantation. owner for below) NEGATIVE
The number land, seeds, NUMBERS)
has been tools,
assigned in animals,
your etc…)
envelope.)
1866 -$200

1867 -$200

1868 -$200

1869 -$200

TOTAL PROFIT:
Sharecropping Simulation

Directions for Profit: Roll the dice once. Find the number in the table below to discover your
profit amount. Record the monetary amount in the above table under profit. Repeat for each
year.
Number on Amount of Profit
the Dice
1 -$300
2 -$200
3 -$100
4 $0
5 $100
6 $200

Directions for Surprise Bag: Pull out one slip of paper from the bag. Record the number in the
surprise column. Repeat for all four years.

Make sure you have everything recorded in the table. Once the table is complete, add to find
your grand total of profit for four years.

Phase 4:

Write your total profit here: _______________________________________

If you made above $500, CONGRATULATIONS, you have made enough money to stop
Sharecropping. You now have a choice, rent your own land and continue farming or move to
the city.

If you made below $499, you did not make enough money to rent your own land and will have
to continue sharecropping.

Answer the questions below:

1. Did you make enough money to leave sharecropping? If so, do you plan to move to the
city or rent your own farm.
Sharecropping Simulation

2. How did sharecropping help or hurt Freedmen in achieving their goals?

3. How was this activity different from real life sharecropping?

4. Compare and contrast sharecropping and slavery.

Sharecropping Similarities Slavery