Question

5.3.4 quiz: land and labor in the south
question 6 of 10
what was a result of the fact that people convicted of crimes could be legally forced to work?
a. landowners refused to work with tenant farmers.
b. many african americans lost land they gained during the war.
c. landowners refused to work with sharecroppers.
d. many african americans were essentially returned to a state of slavery.

Explanation:

After the Civil War, some Southern states used the "convict - lease" system. African Americans, who were often wrongly accused or convicted under discriminatory laws, were forced to work. This was similar to slavery as they had no control over their labor, were subjected to harsh conditions, and the system was used to exploit their work. Landowners did not refuse to work with tenant farmers or sharecroppers as these were common labor arrangements in the post - Civil War South. And there is no direct connection between the fact that convicted people could be forced to work and African Americans losing land they gained during the war.

Answer:

D. Many African Americans were essentially returned to a state of slavery.