Sophia Scher

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Social Studies 8H

Freedom Essay

After The Civil War, African Americans were freed from slavery but were not treated
equal to the whites. When President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Vice President Andrew
Johnson was moved up to be the new president. Johnson didnt like the idea of the African
Americans being free so he made it difficult for them to changeover to total freedom. President
Andrew Johnson vetoed the Freedmens Bureau and the Civil Rights Act which prohibited the
freed slaves from having equal rights, proving that the African Americans werent truly free after
the Civil War was over. Due to the long journey of the African Americans to America, various
opinions of the troubles they faced, and President Andrew Johnsons actions taken, the newly
freed slaves struggled during the civil war time.
Twelve million five hundred thousand African Americans were brought to America
between 1525-1866. 10.7 million survived the horrible outcomes of their journey. When they got
to America they were forced to become slaves to the white people. They were beaten and hurt
throughout this tough and rotten time. They werent given a choice whether to go to America or
not. The slaves were put in bad positions at that time. For example, the slaves were prohibited
to learn how to read and write or even have an education. Each master had a little less than 50
slaves. The slaves were not allowed to get married or have children. When slaves arrived at
their masters land it was either a large farm area or a small plantation starting from the website
the root.
Many African American slaves had different perspectives on how they were being
treated during slavery. The American Journey History Book explains that many of the slaves
thought that they were going to die because of their long hours they worked and their lack of
food. They had no hope that they were going to survive the end of slavery.The African
Americans originally thought they were brought over to have a better life, but they found

Sophia Scher
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Social Studies 8H
themselves put to work. They didnt think they were ever going to see their family or friends ever
again.
When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Vice President Andrew Johnson was moved
up to Presidency. President Johnson did not like the idea of the African Americans being free.
Johnson didnt want the African Americans to have the same rights as whites. Johnson had very
different opinions than Lincoln did by thinking differently on the slaves and their rights. While
Lincoln fought for the freedom of slaves, Johnson fought for the opposite.
The dictionary states the definition for freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or
think as one wants without restraint. African Americans struggled for freedom during the civil
war time period because first, they were brought over to America in terrible conditions, then
were forced to become slaves, and then President Andrew Johnson made it hard for the freed
slaves to live better lives after the war. In the end freedom gave the African Americans rights
that were not equal to the whites.