When the Civil War ended and the slaves were finally free they had no place to live. Having lived with their former, “masters,” the now freed slaves had no other choice but to settle down with them. Available jobs didn’t want them because they were, “colored men.” This brought up the crop lien work contracts. The deal with this contract would have the men work on plantations and earn a share of the money instead of working for free like they did before the Civil War. Having this contract made it seem like life would be easier for them. The white plantation owners actually charged them for just about everything they did while working on the plantation. For example if they used a tool they would be charged for using it, if they ate they would be charged for eating it, and even pay for the shelter they would sit and sleep in. The white plantation owner would deduct all this money from the African Americans’ pay check. Since the Black Codes prevented freedmen from owing money, when the deductions were taken the African man would be in debt to the American white man and would again be forced to work another harvest since he needed money to continue on his life. The new system that was brought up, crop lien contract was another way to enslave African Americans once again without breaking any rules since technically they paid them in a wrongful way. This economic effect of Reconstruction wasn’t resolved for at least another 100 years.
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