Freedmen’s Concept of Freedom Post-Emancipation
Freedom meant different things to different people, but for the freedmen, it was the right to manage their affairs and live independently. Freedom can also mean being able to vote for specific beliefs and ideas of people who best represent them. For freedmen, freedom is considered an end to the suffering, the sale of family members, and white masters. Examples of it are self-determination, educational opportunities, and full citizenship rights.
Former slaveholders wanted freedom to mean limited and privileged freedom for freedmen that did not allow them full and equal access to resources and privileges of citizenship (“Journey to Freedom”). For example, in Georgia, freedmen were denied the right to vote in elections, and in South Carolina, their rights to purchase land were limited (“Southern Black Codes – Constitutional Rights Foundation”). Total freedom was the primary goal of Southern Reconstruction, which became a point of conflict between blacks and whites, as former slaves were given the opportunity to feel free from the countless rules of slavery.
Legal Redefinition of Freedom: The 14th Amendment
After Reconstruction, the definition of freedom took the form of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. It provided citizens of the United States with the right to citizenship and equal protection under the law, regardless of their race, color, sex, or national origin (“Timeline: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877”). Such a time was due to the significant disparity in equal rights between the different races at the time of Reconstruction, and the government of the United States had to take measures to rectify this problem.
The definition of freedom that came into effect after Reconstruction guaranteed all US citizens the right to equal treatment by the government. The brief Reconstruction era allowed African Americans to vote and hold public office at all levels, including Congress, which was a success. However, such activity caused an adverse reaction from the whites, who did not want to give up their dominance. Reconstruction’s promises, namely the equalization of rights, were not fulfilled (“Was the Reconstruction Era a Success or a Failure?”). Moreover, it was also a failure that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments did not take effect, which was the reason for the start of the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century.
Full Citizenship and Property Rights
Ultimately, the definition of freedom adopted after Reconstruction included full citizenship for freedmen and the right to vote or to own property. This happened due to the efforts of Northerners who defended the rights of freedmen. The activity of the Freedmen’s Bureau, an organization established to protect the rights of freedmen, also contributed to this. At the end of the Reconstruction, freedmen were granted full citizenship, the right to vote, and property. This possibility allowed them to engage in business, acquire property, and even hold government office (“Timeline: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877”).
Thus, freedmen were given total freedom. However, being white and having significant resources, former enslavers had significantly more influence in determining citizenship rights than freedmen. Nevertheless, Northern political leadership, the activities of the Freedmen’s Bureau, and the definition of citizenship for freedmen helped them gain full citizenship.
The Ongoing Struggle for Equal Freedom
Over the last century, the definition of freedom and citizenship for formerly enslaved people and their descendants has been one of the significant issues in the US. Reconstruction gave freedmen the right to full citizenship, and subsequent generations have been trying to achieve full equality in rights and opportunities. The government can better understand people’s rights and responsibilities as citizens if it considers the struggle for freedom and citizenship. The history of Reconstruction shows the advantages of being part of a community and taking responsibility for one’s fellow citizens.
Works Cited
“Journey to Freedom.” EJI Reports. Web.
“Southern Black Codes – Constitutional Rights Foundation.” Crf-Usa.org, Constitutional Rights Foundation. Web.
“Timeline: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877.” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Web.
“Was the Reconstruction Era a Success or a Failure?” Britannica. Web.