How did sharecropping keep many freed African Americans in a cycle of 10 point debt? Landowners paid workers high wages Landowners controlled the crops, sales, and deducted expenses from profita Sharecroppers could choose which crops to plant and sell Sharecroppers were given free land to farm

## Step 1<br />The question is asking about the system of sharecropping and its impact on freed African Americans in the post-Civil War era. Sharecropping was a system of agriculture in which a landowner allowed a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crops produced on their portion of land. This system was prevalent in the Southern United States during the Reconstruction era, following the abolition of slavery.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The options provided are:<br />1. Landowners paid workers high wages.<br />2. Landowners controlled the crops, sales, and deducted expenses from profits.<br />3. Sharecroppers could choose which crops to plant and sell.<br />4. Sharecroppers were given free land to farm.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The correct answer is option 2, "Landowners controlled the crops, sales, and deducted expenses from profits." This is because in the sharecropping system, landowners often had significant control over the crops grown and the sales made by the sharecroppers. They would deduct expenses from the profits, which often left the sharecroppers in a cycle of debt. This was particularly true for freed African Americans, who were often exploited under this system.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:<br />1. Landowners did not typically pay high wages to sharecroppers.<br />3. Sharecroppers did not have the freedom to choose which crops to plant and sell; this was usually dictated by the landowner.<br />4. Sharecroppers were not given free land to farm; they had to pay for the use of the land.