what was a major reason for the cycle of debt and poverty most sharecroppers experienced despite their hard work? responses sharecroppers had to buy everything from the landowners who charged exorbitant prices. sharecroppers had to buy everything from the landowners who charged exorbitant prices. landowners never made enough money to cover the costs of a sharecropping operation. landowners never made enough money to cover the costs of a sharecropping operation. sharecroppers and landowners lacked the equipment and fertilizer to make a profit. sharecroppers and landowners lacked the equipment and fertilizer to make a profit. there was not enough la