What did tenant farmers primarily provide in exchange for land?

Tenant farmers primarily provided labor and crops in exchange for land. This system allowed farmers to cultivate land they did not own while paying the landowners through a share of their harvest. Tenant farming emerged as a prevalent agricultural practice, particularly in the Southern United States after the Civil War, as many former slaves and poor whites sought ways to make a living.

In this arrangement, the tenant would typically work the land, manage the cultivation, and harvest crops, which could then be sold or used for subsistence. The landowners benefited from this system as they received a share of the produce without directly engaging in the labor. This relationship was beneficial for both parties, with the tenants gaining access to land and the landowners securing a labor force to maximize their agricultural output.