Vicksburg in Warren County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Mercantile Explosion
— Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 23, 2018
1. Mercantile Explosion Marker
After the Civil War with slavery abolished, the giant plantations were struggling to find labor.
To help with the lack of labor, sharecropping became a common practice. Many of the former slaves became sharecroppers on the plantations where they had been enslaved. Sharecroppers leased a part of the plantations land to farm and paid for it with a "share" of their crop.
In turn, the merchant business in Vicksburg flourished. Sharecroppers were extended credit for goods and would pay their debt when they sold their crops. State laws were even passed that gave the merchants precedence over the plantation land owners for the sharecroppers' earnings when paying their debts.
Erected 2017 by the City of Vicksburg. (Marker Number 27.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi, Vicksburg Heritage Walking Trail series list.
Location. 32° 20.953′ N, 90° 52.929′ W. Marker is in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in Warren County. Marker is at the intersection of Crawford Street and Washington Street (Business U.S. 51), on the left when traveling west on Crawford Street
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 1953 Tornado Memorial (here, next to this marker); Missing Angels (a few steps from this marker); Sky Parlor Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Headquarters (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); C. S. Vaiden (Mississippi) Battery; (about 300 feet away); The Red Tops (about 400 feet away); Banks and Bottles (about 400 feet away); The Blue Room (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vicksburg.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 23, 2018
2. Mercantile Explosion marker next to 1953 Tornado Memorial.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 303 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
