Freedom and Equality for African Americans: A Before and During the Civil War Look

Before the Civil War:

• Limited Freedom:Freedom for African Americans prior to the Civil War was a complex and limited concept. For the enslaved majority, freedom was a distant dream.
• Slave Codes:Southern states enforced strict slave codes that denied basic rights, restricted movement, and mandated obedience to slaveholders.
• Free Blacks:A small percentage of African Americans achieved freedom through manumission (purchase of freedom) or escape. However, even “free” Blacks faced significant limitations.
• Discrimination:Free Blacks were denied voting rights, faced social segregation, and often struggled to find secure employment or own property.
• Resistance:Despite these limitations, enslaved and free Blacks actively resisted their conditions through acts of rebellion, self-education, and escape attempts.

During the Civil War:

• Shifting Definitions:The Civil War fundamentally reshaped the meaning of freedom and equality for African Americans.
• Union War Aims:As the war progressed, the Union’s goal of preserving the nation expanded to include ending slavery.
• Emancipation Proclamation:President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declared enslaved people in Confederate states to be “forever free.” This was a major turning point, offering hope and a reason for African Americans to actively support the Union cause.
• Military Service:Over 200,000 African Americans fought for the Union Army, directly contributing to the war effort and their own freedom.
• Limited Progress:However, even in the North, equality remained elusive for many African Americans. Discrimination persisted, and voting rights were not yet established.

The Civil War marked a significant turning point, but the fight for full freedom and equality for African Americans continued well after the war ended.