Free African Americans In The North Essay

During reconstruction, the meaning of freedom suited many different types of interpretation; the perception of freedom between former slaves and their slaves masters were very contradictory. To begin with, African-Americans had suffered severe abuse over those years of slavery, so to them, the meaning of freedom was basically a hope that in the future, they won’t experience all kind of punishment and exploration that they have been experienced so far. Besides that, formers slaves were demanding equal civil and political rights. In the same way, they valued their freedom by establishing their own schools and churches, reuniting families that were separated under

Were African Americans free during Reconstruction? After the Civil War in 1865 and for the next 17 years America was in Reconstruction, during this time period African Americans were referred to as freedmen and women or negroes. Many important things happened during these 15 years, one of them being the 13th Amendment being passed stating that all men were free (Doc. A). The definition of freedom is, the ability to do whatever you want and control your own actions, without external pressure. So were African Americans really free?

“The freedom of self, the equality of human, the independence of mind, and the right of heart.” Quoted by Thomas Jefferson in 1818. ‘How free were free blacks in North’ all depended on sociality. The lives of blacks were so complicated and restricted from normal human in North. Although ex-fugitive slaves in North could not be bought or sold, they were forbidden to associate with whites. “We are of another race, and he is inferior. Let him know his place and keep it.” Stated again by Charles Mackay. Restrictions of blacks included not doing things with whites in such manner. The most important cassette of life and humanity. Social rights affected the phase of civil life in the America. The freedom of society commenced by a declaration would change the way of life and living forever.

African-Americans were partially free. They did get the right to vote, some were voted into Congress, they could get jobs and do normal everyday things. But a lot of cities added a lot of restrictions to the black men. They needed to be accompanied by white men or needed special permission to go into the city. They could not be out past a certain time or they would get possible jail time or fines. Yes the fines do not seem like a lot to us now but back then $2.50, $5.00, and $10.00 was a lot of

African Americans living in the North, as well as those in the South, faced multiple challenges. In 1860, tension grew between the North and South. Most southern states still held onto slavery, because their slaves were worth money, while the North was trying to abolish it. The North had many free African Americans, but the question is, were they actually free? Free Africans Americans in the North before the civil war were not actually free because, they had little to none political right, they were not allowed to associate with whites, and making a living, no matter what, was hard.

Free blacks in the north had a limited amount of freedom compared to restrictions in the social category. For example, white people in the North made it a social norm exclude blacks from any public events or places. Blacks were not allowed to eat, socialize, or do business with a white men, (Doc B). As a free black in the North, this would conflict with what you were promised with freedom. This concept of social segregation is a little misleading from an outsider’s perspective. As American’s, we proclaim that everyone is created equal and every man has God given rights. For us to say that blacks are an inferior race, and therefore should not have the same rights as us is a violation of our country’s

Not only were blacks of the north deprived of social freedom but they also had very limited economic freedom. Economic freedom is the freedom to have the job you want and the future you desire. Although it may seem hard to believe that not everyone had this right but truthfully slaves weren’t considered everyone, they were just people with no control over their own lives. In Document B Charles Mackay happens to mention that, “but he shall not be free to...share with us the deliberations of the jury box- to attend us in our courts- to represent us in the legislature- to attend us at the bed of sickness and pain.” (Doc B)Through these words the author lists out all the job restriction that slaves actually had. According to this piece of evidence

Do you think blacks were actually free in the north? I don’t. They were not treated equally and they did not have as many rights as whites. They had to go to their own churches and couldn’t even eat or go to the same schools as whites. There was also a lot of racism. They had very restricted rights and couldn’t do near as much as whites.

The National population of america in 1860 was 31 million. The African American population was 4.5 million with 4 million slaves and .5 free. The total amount of free in the north was 221,000. Blacks in the North were partially free. African-Americans did have certain rights such as the right to an education. Document Cc is a paragraph that was extracted from a speech found in Charles Andrew’s The History of New York Free school, Malon Day, New York 1830. According to Doc C by Charles Andrews Blacks in the North are allowed to an education. “Before the Civil War most Northern schools for blacks were segregated. However, this was an improvement over the South where public schooling…” This quote shows that even though they are segregated the

Not all blacks were slaves before the Civil War. Before the dark clouds cast upon the Civil War in the 1860’s, states above the Mason-Dixon Line, also called the Northern states, said that blacks could legally be free. Were blacks really free in the North? Free blacks in the North had limited freedom and many restrictions, in the areas of, political freedom the economy and education, as well as, social rights.

Meanwhile, in the south, Free blacks were still at risk and lived under the shadow of slavery.Free blacks were at risk of being captured and sold as a slave to wealthy plantation owners. Their

Blacks in the North were partially free. Document B is Charles Mackay’s Journal about his travels to America. It gives examples of how the black males were free and how the black males weren’t free. According to document B “ He shall be free to live and to thrive, if he can , and to pay taxes and perform duties.” “ We shall not make the black man a slave; we shall not buy him or sell him.” Document B shows that black males had the freedom to not be a slave, allowing him to pay taxes and perform duties.

Many factors such as looking at the 3 areas of society show the limitation of political, social, and economic freedom of the blacks. First of all, Northern blacks were somewhat free in the area of political

African Americans in the North did not have Political Freedom because the voting rights of the North was unfair against them. According to Political and Judicial rights, five states allowed African Americans to vote and only one state allowed them on Male Jury Duty (Litwack). If only five states allowed African Americans to vote, then they do not have political freedom because the majority of them have

Many say that the American Civil War was fought to free the black slaves. The Union won and declared all slaves free. Although they were named free slaves, African Slaves have never been fully set free, according to the standards of the multi-Cultural American white people. That is the purpose of this paper: ‘Free’ Black Slaves never got the freedom the Union fought for.