Vincent Vincent
Afro American 133
Professor Toussaint Losier
10 March 2016
Midterm Exam Essay
1. Emancipation is now viewed as a process rather than a single act. Describe this process from the beginning of the Civil War to the beginning of Reconstruction. Who were the major players and what were their contributions to Emancipation? In particular, how did African Americans, both enslaved and free, push forward this process of emancipation?
Introduction – Emancipation in General
The election of President Abraham Lincoln on November 6, 1860, was seen as a new fresh air for most African American people back then. The emancipation proclamation was then declared on January 1, 1863 by President Lincoln in Washington D.C. President Lincoln in the beginning, however, was more concerned to preserve the Union rather than the abolition of slavery. However, he never agreed with the idea of slavery and according to him, all men and women should be free. During the Civil War period, emancipation did not happen right after the act was released. The emancipation proclamation in fact did not free a single slave, but it was seen as an important turning point in the war. It took years to accomplish and the process was incredibly long and tough. There was actually an effort to keep the slavery away from the civil war when it was about to begin. The union at the time really needed extra power and help from border states like Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri to help them attack union cities. Border states were supporting slaveries at the time and that was why slavery became an unavoidable issue along with the Civil War.
Civil War
The Civil War officially started on April 12, 1861, when the confederate troops attacked federal garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Three days later on April 15, President Lincoln issued proclamation calling for troops to put down the rebellion. Generally, slavery was the primal cause of the civil war as Frederick Douglas said in the McPherson’s book, “The simple way, then, to put an end to the savage and desolating war now waged by the slaveholders, is to strike down slavery itself, the primal cause of that war.” Generally, the Civil War was caused from the different views of slavery between the North and South. Later on, Southern states decided to secede and caused many slaves to escape from South to North, which then triggered the war even worse. In the beginning of the war, North was not really agree with the idea of African American people fighting in the war. However, it came to a point where the North was lack of soldiers and powers. The decision to include African American to the troops then was inevitable. While the majority of black troops in the South were slave, in the North, the black troops were free blacks. In fact, the presence of African American did change the war map. Black troops proved their determination and willingness to fight in the war, which was reflected from the Massachusetts 54th and 55th regiments “sacrifice.” Overtime, the Union started to realize that the African American people were reliable. Before the war, there was some opinion that African American is the contraband of war and they would immediately give up and run away when they encounter enemy.
Reconstruction Era
The Reconstruction era officially started right after the end of the civil war on May 9, 1865. President Lincoln started planning for the reconstruction of the South during the Civil War as the union soldiers occupied many areas in the South, as he wanted to bring the nation back as quickly as possible. Finally on December 18, 1865, the Congress ratified the 13th Amendment that designed to abolish slaveries. However, the ratification of 13th Amendment could not just abolish slaveries right away. Even though by the law slaveries were no longer exist, many white mobs responded to this amendment by burning down African American’ houses, churches, and terrorizing them with violence. This could be seen on the Freedom Road movie played by Muhammad Ali. African American people were fighting for their freedom through the Reconstruction era for about 10 years until the Federal troops departure from South. The departure of the troops kind of ended the 10 years of hard work to be free. The presence of the Ku Klux Klan and numerous white American that lived with the idea of black and white people can’t be together made the situation even worse. Generally said, the process of Emancipation had to be started from the beginning again. Some major players of this Emancipation process were President Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and Frederick Douglas. President Lincoln as we know, he was the one who declared the emancipation proclamation. Andrew Johnson was the vice-president and he replaced president Lincoln after his assassination. President Johnson restored all rights and privileges of Southern states. Frederick Douglas was an African American who could manage to escape from Maryland and fight for the freedom of African American.
Both enslaved and free African American really pushed the process of emancipation. They were willing to prove themselves by fighting in the war. African American people were still facing discrimination from the white even after the Civil War. After the Civil War, African American people tried many things to establish themselves in the country. For instances, they were trying to gain their citizenship status, education, and right to purchase land so they won’t be considered as slaves anymore. They were also working side-by-side with some white people to establish and strengthen their status as legal citizens. However, as the result, many white people who’re helping black people were attacked and terrorized by the anti-blacks.
2. Describe the meanings of freedom held by African Americans in the aftermath of slavery in the south. How did they seek to build their lives in the post-war period? How did they seek to fortify their communities? Did the federal government help or hinder this process? And what did freedom mean specifically for African American women?
Meanings of Freedom After Slavery in the South
For African American, freedom means equality of rights as a citizen of the United States. Many African American fought in the war in order to prove their determination and nationalism. During and after the Civil war many African American in the South tried to escape to North to seek for a better life. Many of them who were able to escape from the South changed their name since they had to use their master’s last name before. Countless African American lost their relatives before and after the war. The Emancipation Proclamation declared by President Abraham Lincoln marked the process of freedom of African American. As mentioned on the Sterling’s book, African American people were celebrating by dancing and singing after they know that the war is over and they’re finally free from slaveries. Then, on December 18th, 1865, the 13th Amendment was released and it legalized the abolishment of slaveries. The 14th Amendment was released two years later and designed to give legal citizenship status and civil liberties to the ex-slaves. Then, the 15th Amendment came out in 1870 and it was designed to give the right of vote to the African American. Basically, African American people were free and equal to white people after the Amendments. Situation in the North side was much better than in the South. Things in the South were more complicated and different compared to North. Even though African American people in the South by law were also free, they were depending on the Federal Troops to ensure their safety from discrimination and violence from radicals like Ku Klux Klan. The Amendments did not mean anything to the white people who refused to live side by side with African American.
How Did They Seek to Build Lives
As seen in the Freedom Road movie, African American people were trying to educate themselves and have their voices heard in the convention. African American people were also demanding for clear citizenship status, right to vote, and right to buy land. After the Amendments, African American had the same rights as the white American. Mostly African American worked at farm and plantation. They were planning to buy some land so they could toughen their free status. Moreover, by owning their own land, they could grow their own crops to feed their family and improve their economical condition.
In the North, there was a term “carpetbagger”, which was African American from the North who came all the way down to the South for political and economical reason. They were using Reconstruction as an alibi to gain their personal interests in South. Generally, they were considered as corrupt and fraud.
How Did They Seek to Fortify Their Communities
After the war, most African American came together as a community and lived side-by-side. In the Freedom Road movie, it showed how African American agreed to raise money to buy Carwell’s plantation. On the other hand, African Americans also formed their own fraternal organizations and churches. African American would also give a full support to their representative at conference who would fight for them. Some black people also seek for some white people help to educate, preach, and help them to buy land.
Did the Federal Government Help or Hinder This Process
The Reconstruction Era was the aftermath of the Civil War. Officially, African American should be free from slaveries after the 13th Amendment was released. However, life after Civil War did not as simple as it seems. African American people were still facing discrimination and being terrorized by white people and radicals like Ku Klux Klan. The hatred still existed and most ex-slave owners could not accept the fact that there was no slavery anymore. They were against the Amendment and did not want to live along with the African American. Federal government did help the process of emancipation but was forced to remove the Federal troops from the South due to the pressure from the party. The departure of the Federal troops was kind of the end of the Reconstruction era.
What Did Freedom Mean Specifically for African American Women
Freedom for African American women means they could get their womanhood back. During the war, many African American women decided to leave their household work and contribute in the war. Freedom also means the right to vote for African American women, something they really wanted. By having the right to vote, they would give significant voices to their desired candidate.
Works Cited
“Chronology of Emancipation during the Civil War.” Freedmen and Southern Society Project: Chronology of Emancipation. Accessed March 8, 2016.
http://www.freedmen.umd.edu/chronol.htm
McPherson, James M. The Negro's Civil War: How American Negroes Felt and Acted during the War for the Union. New York: Pantheon Books, 1965
Sterling, Dorothy. The Trouble They Seen: The Story of Reconstruction in the Words of African Americans. New York: Da Capo Press, 1994.
“Primary Documents in American History.” 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress). Accessed March 9, 2016
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/13thamendment.html