The Treatment of Ex-Slaves in the South during Reconstruction
Yvonne Craig
Word Count: 2041
“Freedmen has nothing but their freedom”. Discuss the treatment of ex slaves in the South during Reconstruction.
Freedmen itself is the term used to describe slaves who became free men after the US Congress passed the Confiscation Act of 1862. Previously, at the outset of was in Tinkell and Shi’s text ‘America, A Narrative History’ one is made aware that at the beginning of war, then President Lincoln, whom was later assassinated had promised to restore the union but “maintain slavery where it existed”. It must also be noted that Congress also took up this position. With the onslaught of fighting brought new issues to a head. Lincoln found himself in the middle of a melting pot of racial prejudice. The war was forcing the issue of emancipation for slaves and in April 1862 Lincoln signed an Act which abolished slavery in the District of Columbia and subsequently in July 1862 the Confiscation Act was passed. Essentially, freedom was indeed the perfect ideology for slaves but the question one must pose is that did these slaves ever truly envisage a life away from the plantations and entrapment of their masters, or was it all a form of fairytale for them. Freedom came at a cost to these ex slaves. Frightening uncertainties emerged for ex slaves n the South during the process of Reconstruction. Uncertainty arose around homelessness, education, health and work, not to mention the treatment of these ex slaves, particularly by the Acts being passed, and the emergence of not only the Ku Klux Klan, but other organizations of the same nature. One shall be discussing during this essay the process of reconstruction in the South and discuss the way in which the ex slaves were treated.
In Kenneth Stampp’s text ‘The Era of Revolution 1865-1877’ he tells us that Lincoln hoped that with reconstruction the nation’s wounds would heal and to achieve a long and lasting peace. Throughout this period however it became apparent that this
Word Count: 2041
“Freedmen has nothing but their freedom”. Discuss the treatment of ex slaves in the South during Reconstruction.
Freedmen itself is the term used to describe slaves who became free men after the US Congress passed the Confiscation Act of 1862. Previously, at the outset of was in Tinkell and Shi’s text ‘America, A Narrative History’ one is made aware that at the beginning of war, then President Lincoln, whom was later assassinated had promised to restore the union but “maintain slavery where it existed”. It must also be noted that Congress also took up this position. With the onslaught of fighting brought new issues to a head. Lincoln found himself in the middle of a melting pot of racial prejudice. The war was forcing the issue of emancipation for slaves and in April 1862 Lincoln signed an Act which abolished slavery in the District of Columbia and subsequently in July 1862 the Confiscation Act was passed. Essentially, freedom was indeed the perfect ideology for slaves but the question one must pose is that did these slaves ever truly envisage a life away from the plantations and entrapment of their masters, or was it all a form of fairytale for them. Freedom came at a cost to these ex slaves. Frightening uncertainties emerged for ex slaves n the South during the process of Reconstruction. Uncertainty arose around homelessness, education, health and work, not to mention the treatment of these ex slaves, particularly by the Acts being passed, and the emergence of not only the Ku Klux Klan, but other organizations of the same nature. One shall be discussing during this essay the process of reconstruction in the South and discuss the way in which the ex slaves were treated.
In Kenneth Stampp’s text ‘The Era of Revolution 1865-1877’ he tells us that Lincoln hoped that with reconstruction the nation’s wounds would heal and to achieve a long and lasting peace. Throughout this period however it became apparent that this
References: McKitrick, Eric. Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction Roark, James L. Masters Without Slaves Stampp, Kenneth M. The Era of Reconstruction 1865-1877 Tindall & Shi. America. A Narrative History Young, Alfred E. The American Revolution Bibliography Paskov & Wilson. The cause of the South Potter, David M. The South and the Sectional Conflict Quarles, Benjamin. The Negro in the American Revolution