Date: 2/8-11
Topic: Sharecropping
Learning Targets:
1. I can analyze a sharecropping contract to determine who got a better deal.
2. I can define sharecropping.
3. I can sympathize with the sharecropping debt through the simulation.
Essential Questions:
1. What happened in the South during Industrialization?
2. How did sharecroppers go into debt?
Anticipatory Set: quick whole class questions:
1. POWERPOINT SLIDES Look at North v. South in pwerpoint:
a. What was happening during Industrialization?
b. Where in the country was this happening?
c. What might have been happening in the South & North Carolina at this time?
d. View images of sharecroppershttp://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media//59/78359-05090389E86.jpg
 What is this a picture of? Why do you think this?
2. SHARECROPING SIMULATION: Students participate in Sharecrop-opoly (see modified rules)
3. PASS OUT POVERTY CHART Students fill out circle of poverty chart into notebook
a. Should copy frame of chart into notebook, but re-write steps in their own (shorter) words
b. Students look at map as whole class; how did Mecklenburg County compare to others in terms of
sharecropping? http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/uploads/2009/07/1890_sharecropped_farms.jpg
Assessment: processing activity, sharecrop contract questions, circle of poverty chart
Homework: p. 423 Q’s 1-3 multiple choice answers written as full sentences.
SHARECROPOLY: Teacher’s Directions
Handout the bag of beans and cups for students to label with “Landlord” and “Furnishing
Merchant”. Have them place the two cups on the desk. They will need paper and pencil
to fill out credit slips. (students should just tear off pieces of the paper when they need them)
Tell the students that they are going to play a simulation game to help understand the
plight of the sharecropper. The beans are currency in which they will earn or loose
according to the situations that happen in the game.
The dialogue:
“Congratulations! You have just signed a contract to be a sharecropper on my land. I will provide you
with living quarters for you and your family and land on which to work. You will pay me 50% of the
money from your crop, plus a small supervisor fee. I will provide you with a mule but you are
responsible for his upkeep. I am your landlord and what I say goes. There will be no negotiations or
arguments. You should consider yourself lucky to have this opportunity to make a living.”
1. “You came here with 10 beans in cash.” student takes 10 beans from the bag and places it on his
desk.
2. “You will need to have some supplies to farm the land. You can purchase them at
the Farmers Market. You will need:”
seed – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
plow – 2 beans goes into the Farmers Market cup
cart – 2 beans goes into the Farmers Market cup
fertilizer – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
3. “The planting of cotton has gone along fine but you family needs food to eat. Go to the Farmers
Market and purchase:
flour – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
meat – 2 beans goes into the Farmers Market cup
vegetables – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
sugar – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
lard – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
milk – 1 bean goes into the Farmers Market cup
* “If you have run out of beans you can make the purchase on credit. Simply write the number of
beans you owe (3 beans) on a small slip of paper and put it in the Farmers Market’s cup. Don’t worry;
you can pay him back after the crop comes in!”
4. IF YOUR FIRST NAME STARTS WITH A-M: “A tree fell on your fence, allowing your mule to roam
free. You must purchase supplies from the Farmers Market to repair the fence.”
3 rails – 5 beans *Fill out a credit slip (5 beans) and place it in the Farmers Market’s cup.
5. FOR EVERYONE: “Your mule is successfully contained but is now in need of food. Purchase the
following at the Farmers Market:” 5 bales of hay – 5 beans *Fill out a credit slip (5 beans) and place it
in the Farmers Market’s cup.
6. IF YOUR LAST NAME STARTS WITH N-Z: “Your son’s birthday is next week and you would like
to get him a present. Purchase a cup and ball at the Farmers Market:” * Fill out a credit slip (7 beans)
and place it in the Farmers Market’s cup.
7. EVERYONE: “It has been a rough winter and you wife needs medication and your 3 children need
clothes and shoes. I happen to have some shoes and clothes to supply you (for a small fee) and you
need to purchase the medication at the Farmers Market.” clothes and shoes – 4 beans
* Fill out a credit slip ( 4 beans) and place it in the landlord’s cup.
Medication – 1 bean * Fill out a credit slip (1 bean) and place it in the Farmers Market’s cup.
8. Hold up bag/jar full of beans. “Congratulations! After a year of hard work the crop has finally come
in! I have sold everyone’s crops at market and have all the procedes here!” (hold up bag/jar) “Crops
sold at a rate that each of you has earned 40 beans! Now, since I do not trust you all to pay me back
my dues if I give you all 40 now, you must record your earnings on a sheet of paper” (students will
write 40 beans on their paper).
9. “Today is “settlement day” where you settle your debts to the landlord and the Farmers Market.
Whatever is left – is yours to keep! Now, if you recall, each one of you owes me 50% of your profit,
so I will take 20 beans from each of you!” (students subtract 20 beans) “
 The landlord requires 3 beans for a “supervisory” fee. Place 3 beans in the landlords cup
 “PAY BACK AND DEBT YOU HAVE TO THE FARMERS MARKET OR MYSELF!” Student
removes the credit slips from the Farmers Market’s cup – it totals 14 beans – student places
14 beans into the Farmers Market’s cup.
 Student removes the credit slip from the Landlord’s cup (4 beans for clothes and shoes) and
places 4 beans into the Landlord’s cup.
10. “Oh, wait – you only had XX beans left. Well, here’s what we’ll do. Put 3 beans into
the landlord’s cup along with a credit slip of 1 bean. You can work another year and
pay off your debt with the crop comes in!”
- give students who managed to make a profit after settlement day their beans,
collect the debt slips from all the others
End