Sharecroppers - US History

This lesson examines the lives of sharecroppers in the post-Civil War South. Students will learn about the sharecropping system, the promise of “forty acres and a mule,” and the exploitation faced by freed African Americans. Activities include video analysis, timeline sorting, guided reading, and writing PEEKA paragraphs. The lesson concludes with a discussion on the economic and social impact of sharecropping on the Southern United States.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:
Discuss sharecropping and its significance in post-Civil War American history.
Introduce today’s keywords: Sharecropping, Freedmen’s Bureau, Debt Peonage, Forty Acres and a Mule.

Video Task:
Watch videos on sharecropping and make a list of adjectives describing the conditions endured by sharecroppers.

Timeline Activity:
Sort the timeline cards into the correct chronological order of significant events related to sharecropping.

Primary Source Analysis:
Read and analyze primary sources related to sharecropping.
Complete guided reading activities.

Categorisation Task:
Categorize and sort evidence into reliable and unreliable sources on the life of sharecroppers.

Discussion:
Debate whether sharecropping was better than slavery and if it lived up to the promises made during the Civil War.

Writing Task:
Write a PEEKA paragraph answering whether sharecropping was any better than being a slave.

Peer Assessment:
Read through a partner’s paragraphs, highlight each PEEKA section, and provide feedback.

Class Discussion:
Share and discuss the PEEKA paragraphs.

Recap Quiz:
Participate in a recap quiz to reinforce key points from the lesson.

Resources:
Video links on sharecropping
Timeline cards
Primary source documents
Guided reading text
PEEKA paragraph guidelines and planning sheet

From a series of over 50 lessons made by Wolsey Academy on the history of the United States. They provide a thorough foundation of knowledge in this vital period of world history and provide an excellent foundation for all future study. Each lesson looks to focus on a range of historical skills and exam techniques to equip students with knowledge and transferable research, analysis and study skills.
To find the complete bundle search on the Wolsey Academy website.

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