position of African Americans in 1865

who were Freedmen?

People released from enslavement

who were abolitionists?

Members of the government which saw slavery as immoral and socially and economically baclward

what was the Old South?

The Southern slave States of the period before the Civil war. It became a term of nostalgia, suggesting harmony between slaves and their owners

when was the outbreak of the Civil war?

1861

what was the main cause of the Civil war? What did the South fear?

Slavery. The South feared Lincoln would end slavery

why did the North win the war?

They ahd many more soldiers than the South, the north had 20,000 miles of rail roads compared to the SOuth, which was 10,000. They produced more goods and farming is mechanised

what was the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 do?

This order freed all the slaves

what did Lincoln do?

He didn’t free slaves that he had the power to free, but he freed the slaves who couldn’t be freed in states in the South

hat did Lincoln push for?

The 13 Amendment in 1865,which would free the slaves

how did slaves help gain their freedom?

they fled to the Union lines and ran away from their slave masters

what was sharecropping?

It was considered to be the practical solution - under this system, white land owners allowed former slaves to work in their land, in return for a considerable share of what was produced

in many cases, what was sharecropping not dissimilar to?

Slavery

what did the former slaves still face?

Although it was true that they were now allowed freedom to move, to enjoy personal liberty and to no longer be separated from partners and children, they still faced considerable limitations to their liberty

what got worse?

Segregation

what required the debt to be carried over until the nedt year or the next?

High rates, unpredictable harvests, and unscrupulous landlords and merchants often kept tenant farm families severely indebted, requiring for it to be carried over

what made it difficult or even illegal for sharecropper to sell their own crops to others beside their landlord?

Laws favouring landowners. Prevented sharecropper from moving if they were indebted to their landlord

what was the government uncertain about?

What to do about freed slaves and the ‘Southern rebels’

what were the white population uncertain about?

How far to go with measures for greater equality

what were African Americans uncertain about?

Their role and status in post War America and how far to press for equality