A New Beginning
This promise of great changes, and hope for a new beginning had been the single inspiration that kept a lot of African Americans from giving up completely. With the end of the civil war, and Union becoming victorious, African Americans hope that now they would be allow their whole and complete freedom. Almost a hundred years earlier, African Americans were in a similar situation were they had hoped for freedom after they were promised it during the Revolutionary War. The promised of freedom was not kept. Few Africa Americans did gain freedom but the majority of them did not and life didn't improve much for most. However, there was a major difference between the Revolutionary and Civil war for Africa Americans. The reason why the Revolutionary War was being fought had nothing to do with the issue of slavery. Whereas, the Civil War major issue turned into slavery. So, it was understandable why African Americans felt a great deal of hope when the side fighting for the end of slavery won the war. With the Union victory African American did gain their freedom by law, but didn't gain equality. With the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in December 1865, slavery was officially
Blacks were also prevented from buying land and were denied fair wages for their work. The organization sought teachers who possessed "a missionary spirit, good health, energy, culture and common sense, personal habits, and experience. In the meantime, Northern armies continued to occupy the South and to enforce the decrees of Congress. President Johnson had no interest in ensuring the freedom of southern blacks. The new state legislatures passed laws designed to keep blacks in poverty and in positions of servitude. In some areas, black children could be forced to serve as apprentices in local industries. The amendment was finally ratified in July 1868 after all the states approved it. However, in many parts of the South, the newly freed slaves labored under conditions similar to those existing before the war. These leaders felt that the end of slavery did not help the situation of African Americans, and slavery was a better situation for blacks. Many Black leaders like Frederick Douglass felt along with education that voting was a very important step to improve Blacks position in American society. Blacks left slavery with a desire to read and write. Another organization that promoted black education was the Freedman's Bureau. However, things would not always be this great for African Americans. But just like the Revolutionary War, the promises of total freedom and equality did not come true.
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