Reconstruction: The Second Civil War. What does this video portray about freed peoples efforts to secure their freedom and the degree of Southern white resistance to these efforts?
After the Civil War, freedmen took advantage of opportunities that white people had been taking for granted for decades. Amongst these luxuries was simply the ability to have a say in the course of one's life. Education was especially emphasized. Educated blacks established schools and educated thousands of former slaves. The Freedmen's Bureau was established by the United States government to assist in post war southern conditions. Freedmen also strived to attain land and make a living to support themselves and their families-the first time in their life they would be paid to work in the fields on their own accord. African American leaders put forth an effort to establish ethnic diversity within the government. Surely, this would secure freedom for the freedmen.
Good observations concerning African American efforts to secure freedom following the civil war, particularly concerning education and desire to work their own land. Although, I would like to have seen some specific examples from the video in this case.
During the Reconstruction Era, freedmen sought to get many rights like education, voting rights, and simply equality. Once Amendments 13-15 were passed, the freedmen began to slowly gain their equality, but were still very angry because of how they got robbed of a simple privilege that is schooling. Many African-Americans started their own communities and went through so much difficulty just to give their people an education. One man said something along the lines of being outraged that he was robbed of a privilege that is education. The Freedmen's Bureau began putting schools into communities in the South so the freedmen could get their education they fought for so much. The freedmen in the end just wanted equality among all, they wanted simple rights and privileges that the Southerners continued to take away from them.
Good comments, A.J., particularly concerning the desire for education. Not sure about your mention of the amendments, however, as the video was not really dealing with them at this point, yet.
Following the Civil War, the freedmen sought to gain political, social, and economic equality with whites. The video portrays the level of their efforts with the story about Tunis Campbell and his people on St. Catherine's Island. They were willing to break off completely from the rest of the nation and establish a rule which stated that no white man could set foot on the island just to secure their independence. The actions of the freedmen remaining in the US were not as rash, but had just as much effort to them as Campbell's. They fought tirelessly to gain their rights--not just the ones written in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments--but also the right to education. Education was key in gaining independence from and equality with the whites, which was the key goal of the freedmen during Reconstruction.
Very good, Ryley. Particularly concerning the efforts of Tunis Campbell and the community and the free black community he helped establish on the abandoned Sea Islands of Georgia. Unfortunately, this community will be short-lived, but as was quoted in the video, this was a "beautiful experiment in American democracy."
African Americans looked to take advantage of their newly earned rights as soon as they were given. This video portrayed the way that freedmen did this very well. Education was a very important thing to African Americans who were previously denied this right. It was shown that schools were quickly built and churches quickly started in order for freedmen to begin learning as much as possible in order to better their lives and secure their freedoms. These people attempted to learn and earn money. They simply wanted equality, they did not look to pass laws of revenge, they looked to find equality. A simple right that they strived to be privileged was "forty acres and a mule" they would work their own land and hopefully be left alone to support themselves and their families. They fought for their simply rights patiently but diligently.
Very good, Joey (although you have some typos present). I am impressed with your observance of freed peoples not seeking revenge, but simply the same rights and economic opportunities that all Americans seek. Well done.
Education was one of the main things that freedmen utilized with their newly given freedoms. Freed people believed that education was the first step to securing their freedoms and they believed it was necessary to succeed and flourish on their own. The video shows how they established St. Catherine's Island in order to live completely free of white rule and supremacy as the island was completely comprised of black freedmen. The video demonstrates how freedmen made use of every opportunity given to them in order to better their lives.
I like your mention of St. Catherine's Island, Rebecca, but I would liked to have seen just a little bit of detail here. How were African Americans trying to live completely free of white supremacy here?
During the time of Reconstruction, African Americans took advantage of every opportunity that came their way. They started to form their own organizations and churches. They were very eager to obtain the education that had once been taken from them due to the law of slavery. The video emphasized that education played an important role in Freedmen’s lives. Schools were established so that thousands of former slaves could have the opportunity to become educated. The video also portrayed the importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau and how it bettered the lives of all slaves. African Americans strived for the equal rights and privileges that were once taken from them.
Freedmen's Bureau and the educational opportunities it provided newly-freed African Americans will definitely be key in obtaining future political and economic opportunities for African Americans. This was probably the greatest success of the Freedmen's Bureau.
During Reconstruction, African Americans were desperately in search of ways to provide not only for themselves and their families, but their entire race as a whole. They searched for ways to steadily stabilize and normalize a life of freedom for themselves. One of the most important ways they employed their newly found freedom, was their search for education. Education played such an important role in their success and equality in government and society in general. A great example of this is St. Catherine's Island in the video, they decided to be completely self sustaining and even created their own government. They proved themselves equal and worthy of the same rights Whites had. The term "forty acres and a mule" became common among African Americans and this was more than enough for them to find success on their own.
Freedmen wanted to take advantage of every sweet lick of liberty they were given through reconstruction. They were joyous to have rights and they responded by voting in large numbers, educating themselves, participating politically in large numbers, getting married, reuniting with families, and owning property by their own means (more rare) and owning it by the endowment of government agencies. The southern whites were horrible people and wanted to not only strip the blacks from their new opportunities, but to scare them into it by brutalization. St. Catherine's island was one such example, blacks were living peacefully and democratically. Angry white men attempted to regain this land back when they should have accepted the reality of their defeat and compromise.
Good, Ian. The hope and promise of Reconstruction will fade for African Americans, primarily due to white resistance. This includes the success of St. Catherine's Island, which will be tragically short-lived. Some form of compromise by whites could have made America an ideal multiracial democracy.
During Reconstruction, African Americans sought after and made an effort to secure their freedoms politically, socially, and through education. They began forming their own organizations, schools and churches. The freedmen knew education was key in their security of these rights and quickly built schools to further education to the entire race. The Freedmen's Bureau was created by the U.S Federal Gov't in order to assist these newly freed people and their greatest success was through their educational opportunities they provided. This education allowed for and laid the groundwork for African Americans in achieving their newly gained political and economic opportunities. The video mentions St. Catherine's Island in which some of these "freedmen" went, lived, and prospered with education. They had even created their own successful government. The video portrays the fact that African Americans were truly equal and fought for their rights that they had earned.
Good response, Ryan. Education and the formation of an organized government modeled on the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement for newly-freed slaves during Reconstruction.
During the period of reconstruction African Americans sought to be equal to the whites. They sought this by utilizing the rights and freedoms granted to them by the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The 13th amendment ruled the end of slavery making all enslaved African Americans now free, the 14th defined citizenship for all both blacks and rights along with protecting these freedoms and rights granted by citizenship at the federal level. The 15th amendment granted African American males the right to vote. In the video the freedmen are shown as aggressively attacking the need for education and religion. The freedmen built churches and schools as one of the first structures in there newly founded towns. The freedmen fought for equality not revenge, they simply wanted to be equals and work and earn their own money and own their own land. The rule "forty acres and a mule" became a very popular saying simply because this is all African Americans wanted was equality and the ability to work and make their own money and support their own family.
During the era of Reconstruction, emancipated African Americans set out to make use of their new liberties which had been brought about the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th). Such freedoms included education and political/civil rights. Their burning desire for these liberties was more than justified for they had been denied such privileges for a long time. Former slaves even began to thrive spiritually with their building of black churches in order to worship freely. An interesting point in the video was that of St. Catherine's Island, where freed blacks lived together peacefully without white interference. The rights that they now had moved them to want to maintain them and fight for equality, not revenge. White Southerners were enraged with the rights being given to their former slaves and wanted to take back the land that had been given them. It is quite sad that this desire existed, especially when realizing that what the blacks wanted was incredibly simple. ("forty acres and a mule")
Excellent observations. Well-written. Particularly your last observation. These freed people were really not asking for much after centuries of enslavement.
During the Reconstruction era there were many efforts by the freedmen to secure their freedom. Many freedmen went on journeys looking for lost family members and loved ones. The Freedom's Bureau was created which essentially gave blacks the freedom of education. Freedmen started to create their own societies. An example of this is St. Catherine's Island. The blacks in this society made their own functioning government and proved they could do well without white interference. Education proved to be very important in the blacks gaining their rights. Many whites did not think they should be treated equally and did not want to give blacks any land but the blacks proved that they deserved the land just as equally as anyone else.
Very key that you mentioned St. Catherine's Island and the desire by newly freed peoples to create their own local government and community without interference or assistance from whites. Really, the only thing that the freedmen expected from the U.S. government was protection of their citizenship rights.
The video showed that freed people were desperate to secure their rights to simple things that they had been deprived of for so long. With the help of the Freedman's Bureau, thousands would be educated. Many would be inspired to build their own schools to help their fellow recently freed slaves learn. Churches and communities would spring up along the community where they could live amongst each other, free of prejudice. They would host meetings both political and economic within these churches which would later become the staging ground for civil rights movements. Those who could afford it took advantage of the homestead acts and claimed land for their own to make a living. Freed slaves would travel across the country in a search for family members they had lost. Hiram Revels amongst others would take position in government as senators, congressmen, governors, and mayors. With very little given the recently freed people would thrive and be reborn as citizens of the United States of America.
Very detailed answer. Like your mention of Hiram Revels, in particular. I would liked to have seen you specifically reference the video, but this is a very well thought out response.
After years under the oppression of the institution of slavery, the freedmen found it exceptionally difficult to assimilate into functioning citizens in the post Civil War society; obtaining rights and liberties was something that was necessary yet also wearisome. They realized that in order to secure their freedom and liberties, large strides in education for their race must ensue. Education would help economically, politically, and make them more credible in their arguments. Interestingly enough, education was something that was yearned for by the freedmen - a form of privilege that was once unattainable.The freedmen made efforts to create their own societies full of churches, schools, and land. In these societies it was proven that the blacks could exist peacefully and democratically - without any white interference.
After the Civil War, freedmen took advantage of opportunities that white people had been taking for granted for decades. Amongst these luxuries was simply the ability to have a say in the course of one's life. Education was especially emphasized. Educated blacks established schools and educated thousands of former slaves. The Freedmen's Bureau was established by the United States government to assist in post war southern conditions. Freedmen also strived to attain land and make a living to support themselves and their families-the first time in their life they would be paid to work in the fields on their own accord. African American leaders put forth an effort to establish ethnic diversity within the government. Surely, this would secure freedom for the freedmen.
ReplyDeleteGood observations concerning African American efforts to secure freedom following the civil war, particularly concerning education and desire to work their own land. Although, I would like to have seen some specific examples from the video in this case.
DeleteDuring the Reconstruction Era, freedmen sought to get many rights like education, voting rights, and simply equality. Once Amendments 13-15 were passed, the freedmen began to slowly gain their equality, but were still very angry because of how they got robbed of a simple privilege that is schooling. Many African-Americans started their own communities and went through so much difficulty just to give their people an education. One man said something along the lines of being outraged that he was robbed of a privilege that is education. The Freedmen's Bureau began putting schools into communities in the South so the freedmen could get their education they fought for so much. The freedmen in the end just wanted equality among all, they wanted simple rights and privileges that the Southerners continued to take away from them.
ReplyDeleteGood comments, A.J., particularly concerning the desire for education. Not sure about your mention of the amendments, however, as the video was not really dealing with them at this point, yet.
DeleteFollowing the Civil War, the freedmen sought to gain political, social, and economic equality with whites. The video portrays the level of their efforts with the story about Tunis Campbell and his people on St. Catherine's Island. They were willing to break off completely from the rest of the nation and establish a rule which stated that no white man could set foot on the island just to secure their independence. The actions of the freedmen remaining in the US were not as rash, but had just as much effort to them as Campbell's. They fought tirelessly to gain their rights--not just the ones written in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments--but also the right to education. Education was key in gaining independence from and equality with the whites, which was the key goal of the freedmen during Reconstruction.
ReplyDeleteVery good, Ryley. Particularly concerning the efforts of Tunis Campbell and the community and the free black community he helped establish on the abandoned Sea Islands of Georgia. Unfortunately, this community will be short-lived, but as was quoted in the video, this was a "beautiful experiment in American democracy."
DeleteAfrican Americans looked to take advantage of their newly earned rights as soon as they were given. This video portrayed the way that freedmen did this very well. Education was a very important thing to African Americans who were previously denied this right. It was shown that schools were quickly built and churches quickly started in order for freedmen to begin learning as much as possible in order to better their lives and secure their freedoms. These people attempted to learn and earn money. They simply wanted equality, they did not look to pass laws of revenge, they looked to find equality. A simple right that they strived to be privileged was "forty acres and a mule" they would work their own land and hopefully be left alone to support themselves and their families. They fought for their simply rights patiently but diligently.
ReplyDeleteVery good, Joey (although you have some typos present). I am impressed with your observance of freed peoples not seeking revenge, but simply the same rights and economic opportunities that all Americans seek. Well done.
DeleteEducation was one of the main things that freedmen utilized with their newly given freedoms. Freed people believed that education was the first step to securing their freedoms and they believed it was necessary to succeed and flourish on their own. The video shows how they established St. Catherine's Island in order to live completely free of white rule and supremacy as the island was completely comprised of black freedmen. The video demonstrates how freedmen made use of every opportunity given to them in order to better their lives.
ReplyDeleteI like your mention of St. Catherine's Island, Rebecca, but I would liked to have seen just a little bit of detail here. How were African Americans trying to live completely free of white supremacy here?
DeleteDuring the time of Reconstruction, African Americans took advantage of every opportunity that came their way. They started to form their own organizations and churches. They were very eager to obtain the education that had once been taken from them due to the law of slavery. The video emphasized that education played an important role in Freedmen’s lives. Schools were established so that thousands of former slaves could have the opportunity to become educated. The video also portrayed the importance of the Freedmen’s Bureau and how it bettered the lives of all slaves. African Americans strived for the equal rights and privileges that were once taken from them.
ReplyDeleteFreedmen's Bureau and the educational opportunities it provided newly-freed African Americans will definitely be key in obtaining future political and economic opportunities for African Americans. This was probably the greatest success of the Freedmen's Bureau.
DeleteDuring Reconstruction, African Americans were desperately in search of ways to provide not only for themselves and their families, but their entire race as a whole. They searched for ways to steadily stabilize and normalize a life of freedom for themselves. One of the most important ways they employed their newly found freedom, was their search for education. Education played such an important role in their success and equality in government and society in general. A great example of this is St. Catherine's Island in the video, they decided to be completely self sustaining and even created their own government. They proved themselves equal and worthy of the same rights Whites had. The term "forty acres and a mule" became common among African Americans and this was more than enough for them to find success on their own.
ReplyDeleteVery good. Your mention of St. Catherine's and trying to create a government and society modeling the organization of the U.S. government is very key.
DeleteFreedmen wanted to take advantage of every sweet lick of liberty they were given through reconstruction. They were joyous to have rights and they responded by voting in large numbers, educating themselves, participating politically in large numbers, getting married, reuniting with families, and owning property by their own means (more rare) and owning it by the endowment of government agencies. The southern whites were horrible people and wanted to not only strip the blacks from their new opportunities, but to scare them into it by brutalization. St. Catherine's island was one such example, blacks were living peacefully and democratically. Angry white men attempted to regain this land back when they should have accepted the reality of their defeat and compromise.
ReplyDeleteGood, Ian. The hope and promise of Reconstruction will fade for African Americans, primarily due to white resistance. This includes the success of St. Catherine's Island, which will be tragically short-lived. Some form of compromise by whites could have made America an ideal multiracial democracy.
DeleteDuring Reconstruction, African Americans sought after and made an effort to secure their freedoms politically, socially, and through education. They began forming their own organizations, schools and churches. The freedmen knew education was key in their security of these rights and quickly built schools to further education to the entire race. The Freedmen's Bureau was created by the U.S Federal Gov't in order to assist these newly freed people and their greatest success was through their educational opportunities they provided. This education allowed for and laid the groundwork for African Americans in achieving their newly gained political and economic opportunities. The video mentions St. Catherine's Island in which some of these "freedmen" went, lived, and prospered with education. They had even created their own successful government. The video portrays the fact that African Americans were truly equal and fought for their rights that they had earned.
ReplyDeleteGood response, Ryan. Education and the formation of an organized government modeled on the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement for newly-freed slaves during Reconstruction.
DeleteDuring the period of reconstruction African Americans sought to be equal to the whites. They sought this by utilizing the rights and freedoms granted to them by the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The 13th amendment ruled the end of slavery making all enslaved African Americans now free, the 14th defined citizenship for all both blacks and rights along with protecting these freedoms and rights granted by citizenship at the federal level. The 15th amendment granted African American males the right to vote. In the video the freedmen are shown as aggressively attacking the need for education and religion. The freedmen built churches and schools as one of the first structures in there newly founded towns. The freedmen fought for equality not revenge, they simply wanted to be equals and work and earn their own money and own their own land. The rule "forty acres and a mule" became a very popular saying simply because this is all African Americans wanted was equality and the ability to work and make their own money and support their own family.
ReplyDelete"Forty Acres and a Mule" will be the key phrase to come out of the granting of land to ex-slaves on the Sea Islands of Georgia.
DeleteDuring the era of Reconstruction, emancipated African Americans set out to make use of their new liberties which had been brought about the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th). Such freedoms included education and political/civil rights. Their burning desire for these liberties was more than justified for they had been denied such privileges for a long time. Former slaves even began to thrive spiritually with their building of black churches in order to worship freely. An interesting point in the video was that of St. Catherine's Island, where freed blacks lived together peacefully without white interference. The rights that they now had moved them to want to maintain them and fight for equality, not revenge. White Southerners were enraged with the rights being given to their former slaves and wanted to take back the land that had been given them. It is quite sad that this desire existed, especially when realizing that what the blacks wanted was incredibly simple. ("forty acres and a mule")
ReplyDeleteExcellent observations. Well-written. Particularly your last observation. These freed people were really not asking for much after centuries of enslavement.
DeleteDuring the Reconstruction era there were many efforts by the freedmen to secure their freedom. Many freedmen went on journeys looking for lost family members and loved ones. The Freedom's Bureau was created which essentially gave blacks the freedom of education. Freedmen started to create their own societies. An example of this is St. Catherine's Island. The blacks in this society made their own functioning government and proved they could do well without white interference. Education proved to be very important in the blacks gaining their rights. Many whites did not think they should be treated equally and did not want to give blacks any land but the blacks proved that they deserved the land just as equally as anyone else.
ReplyDeleteVery key that you mentioned St. Catherine's Island and the desire by newly freed peoples to create their own local government and community without interference or assistance from whites. Really, the only thing that the freedmen expected from the U.S. government was protection of their citizenship rights.
ReplyDeleteThe video showed that freed people were desperate to secure their rights to simple things that they had been deprived of for so long. With the help of the Freedman's Bureau, thousands would be educated. Many would be inspired to build their own schools to help their fellow recently freed slaves learn. Churches and communities would spring up along the community where they could live amongst each other, free of prejudice. They would host meetings both political and economic within these churches which would later become the staging ground for civil rights movements. Those who could afford it took advantage of the homestead acts and claimed land for their own to make a living. Freed slaves would travel across the country in a search for family members they had lost. Hiram Revels amongst others would take position in government as senators, congressmen, governors, and mayors. With very little given the recently freed people would thrive and be reborn as citizens of the United States of America.
ReplyDeleteVery detailed answer. Like your mention of Hiram Revels, in particular. I would liked to have seen you specifically reference the video, but this is a very well thought out response.
ReplyDeleteAfter years under the oppression of the institution of slavery, the freedmen found it exceptionally difficult to assimilate into functioning citizens in the post Civil War society; obtaining rights and liberties was something that was necessary yet also wearisome. They realized that in order to secure their freedom and liberties, large strides in education for their race must ensue. Education would help economically, politically, and make them more credible in their arguments. Interestingly enough, education was something that was yearned for by the freedmen - a form of privilege that was once unattainable.The freedmen made efforts to create their own societies full of churches, schools, and land. In these societies it was proven that the blacks could exist peacefully and democratically - without any white interference.
ReplyDelete