The American Peasantry

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The book provides an in-depth examination of American peasantry, focusing on sharecroppers who opted for subsistence cultivation over commercial agriculture. It traces the historical roots from pre-Civil War plantations to the postbellum sharecrop system, highlighting the experiences of both black and white cultivators. The author explores the impact of mechanization on southern peasants after 1950 and critiques how welfare policies have influenced urban joblessness. This analysis reveals the complexities of labor norms and social dynamics throughout American history.