The Concept of Freedom During the Civil War

A detailed Summary of The Concept of Freedom During the Civil War

The concept of freedom drove an entire nation to a Civil War, which was, arguably, the bloodiest war this country has ever seen. It set North against South, nation against state, and brother against brother. Each group of individuals maintained an interpretation of freedom that was so powerful to them, they were willing to die to preserve it. However, the definition of freedom was not easily pinpointed for each individual. In fact, Eric Foner, in his book A Short History of Reconstruction did not specify a straightforward definition of freedom. He could not grasp a direct meaning that would incorporate each group's personal beliefs towards the concept. Furthermore, Foner devoted an entire chapter to "The Meaning of Freedom" which he never conquered defining. It is impossible to fully understand what is exactly incorporated into the definition of freedom without looking at it from the point of view of each group during the Reconstruction era. However, while the road to freedom would take different paths for the freedmen and plantation owners, each group had the same destination in mind: the ability to live autonomously.

For the freedmen, the basic need to live autonomously was to escape the authority of the former slave o

In lacking the ability to enslave blacks, the southern white population lost a bit of freedom they once possessed. The federal government revoked a privilege they once had, and by doing this, many southern whites believed their rights were also being revoked. They were no longer able to live as they wished and to govern themselves. Southern whites often tried to redeem themselves, however, by enforcing rules such as Black Codes.

Many of these men developed their leadership ability through the church. While at one time under the control of the white population, the southern black churches began to secede after slavery was overthrown. "The creation of an independent black religious life proved to be a momentous and irreversible consequence of emancipation" (Foner, p. 40). Religion and church was a center point in the lives of the Black population. Within the walls of the church, it was possible to worship without white control, an important element in the journey of becoming autonomous. It was "the first social institution fully controlled by black men in America" (Foner, p. 41). The church was also a voice of hope for a people so oppressed. Many churches related the struggling of the freedmen with the struggling of the Jews in the Old Testament. The Jews shrugged off the shackles of slavery and escaped the oppression of the Egyptians when God delivered them to freedom. "There is no part of the Bible with which they are so familiar as the story of the deliverance of the Children of Israel" (White Ar

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Approximate Word count = 1023
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History