This economic arrangement characterized post-Civil War agriculture in the South. Under this system, farmers, often former slaves and poor whites, obtained supplies, such as seed, tools, and food, on credit from local merchants. In return, the merchants held a claim (lien) on the farmer’s future crop as collateral. For example, a farmer might pledge a portion of their cotton harvest to secure needed goods before the growing season even began.
This system perpetuated a cycle of debt and dependency. High interest rates, coupled with fluctuating crop prices and dishonest accounting practices, frequently left farmers owing more than they earned at harvest time. This effectively bound them to the land and to the merchant, limiting their economic mobility and reinforcing existing social hierarchies. The prevalence of this arrangement significantly hindered the South’s economic recovery and diversification following the Civil War.