Sharecropping: The Downfall of Abner Snopes

Throughout the Civil War, plantations relied on slaves for cheap, affordable labor.  At the close of the war, the emancipation of slaves led the United States into the Reconstruction Era.  With the economy in ruins and a lack of labor, plantation owners were left in need of assistance while poor farmers were left with no money to support their families.  Sharecropping was one of the few options available for poor families, particularly in the Southern United States.  Through the system of sharecropping, a landowner distributes a portion of their land to a sharecropper.  In return, the landowner receives a share of the crop produced on the land that was assigned.  Although this opportunity appeared to be beneficial, its toll on families across the south often put more financial burden on the tenant than what had existed before.  Many families were bombarded with debts and costs that could only be paid through work.  While stuck in the cycle of sharecropping, Abner Snopes lost hope of escape.  As his debts increased, he lost himself in a maze of anger and frustration.  His hatred for the system could be seen through his outbursts and rebellion toward the landowners.  Although his actions were not honorable, his loss of hope and freedom influenced his decisions of fighting back.  Abner’s non-existant routes of escape left him willing to sacrifice anything to show his frustrations toward the corrosive system.