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Indigo planters in the 18th and 19th centuries often faced challenges when it came to paying sharecroppers for their labor. With the rise of capitalism and the need for profit, indigo planters found themselves in a precarious position when it came to compensating their workers fairly. This is why many indigo planters obtained new agreements from their sharecroppers to pay compensation.

The first reason why indigo planters obtained new agreements was that they needed to maintain their profits. Indigo was a highly sought-after commodity, and demand for it was growing. This meant that planters needed to produce more indigo to fulfill this demand. However, producing more indigo required additional labor, and paying fair wages to all their workers would have cut into their profits. By obtaining new agreements with their sharecroppers, planters were able to maintain their profits without compromising on the quality of their indigo production.

Another reason why indigo planters obtained new agreements was that it allowed them to maintain control over their workforce. Sharecroppers were often tied to the land, and were unable to leave without the permission of the planter. By obtaining new agreements with their sharecroppers, planters were able to exert more control over their labor force and prevent them from leaving for better wages elsewhere.

Finally, indigo planters obtained new agreements as a means of protecting themselves from legal challenges. Sharecroppers had limited legal rights, and by obtaining new agreements, planters were able to protect themselves from legal challenges or lawsuits from their workers. This gave planters more freedom to govern their workforce as they saw fit.

In conclusion, indigo planters obtained new agreements from their sharecroppers to pay compensation for a variety of reasons. They needed to maintain their profits, maintain control over their workforce, and protect themselves legally. These agreements were an essential part of the indigo production process and helped ensure that the planters were able to produce high-quality indigo while maintaining their profits.