The directive from the US government to free slaves was not accepted by everyone. There were states that rebelled but finally the slaves were granted freedom by the efforts of President Lincoln. They accepted that citizenship brought certain good things in their life but understood that they would have to serve their country.
Freedom and What It Entails
Freedom to the slaves in America encompassed several things. The first step was the abolishment of slavery which paved way for them to participate fully in the activities in the society. First of all, they would have an opportunity to go to school and university and take up professions in the public and private sector. As slaves they worked in the White man’s farms and were not given an opportunity to go to school. They therefore had challenges communicating well in written and spoken English.
With the limited education and skills, they could not get into careers where they would earn higher levels of income and raise their standard of living. They therefore lived in poverty. The men wanted to be able to get great jobs and provide for their families ‘needs. Freedom meant having labour rights and not being at the mercy of masters who would overwork and underpay them.
During slavery, the slaves were not allowed to have legal marriages. They did not have marriage certificates. The couples who wanted to live together would simply move in together and start a family. There were those that had been separated from their families and wanted to be reunited. With the emancipation declaration by the President, the slaves were able to apply for a legal ceremony where they would be able to celebrate their love.
The former slaves were also interested in getting their civil and political rights just as the Whites had(Roark, Johnson, Cohen, Stage, Lawson & Hartmann, 2002). The Blacks were not allowed to participate in voting in any public office. They now wanted an opportunity to vote in leaders who would be able to represent their interests. There were Whites who were considerate and could be trusted to advance their cause for equal treatment however as time went on, they realised that they needed representation in the political office. Black men who remembered where they had come from and would be able to represent their interests well.
It was very important to deal with the political system to embrace African Americans. These were the people responsible for enacting laws and implementing them. The African Americans wanted the Federal government to deal with slavery at the roots not just with the fruits of slavery. The system of slavery had been perpetrated by the politicians. The African Americans wanted the rights of freedom but they were also aware of the responsibilities of freedom.
The African Americans therefore called for the government to be democratic. To remove limitations on any of its people that were based on exterior characteristics such as the colour of skin, the wealth the individual has amassed or the expression of one’s faith.
For the slaves, it was not just their own emancipation but the freedom for everyone who had been treated differently from the rest. Freedom meant that there would be no people treated as aliens or enemies in their own country and there would be no people of an inferior class.
Everyone would have a voice in the government and a right and opportunity to express their views and opinions concerning social issues in the country.
References
Roark, J., Johnson, M., Cohen, P., Stage, S., Lawson, A. & Hartmann, S. (2002). The American Promise (A History of the United States). United States: Bedford/St. Martin.
