Final answer:
Sharecroppers often purchased on credit due to factors such as poverty, limited cash availability, and the crop lien system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sharecroppers often bought on credit instead of with cash due to several factors.
- Firstly, many sharecroppers were already in a state of poverty and did not have much actual cash on hand. They produced much of what they needed on their own land but still relied on credit for purchasing seeds and supplies.
- Secondly, the war further strained the system of debt and harvest, resulting in reduced farm production and limited supplies.
- Lastly, the crop lien system meant that sharecroppers had to assume the risks and finance many aspects of cotton production, making them legally liable for the purchases made on credit.