After the Emancipation Proclamation was released and declared the abolition of slavery in many rebellious states, the idea of truly being "free" varied significantly according to each former slave. In the article, "The Meaning of Freedom, document 1, John Q.A. Dennis a newly freed slave, wrote a heart felt letter to Edwin Stanton eagerly pleading for the custody and liberation of his children that were active slaves whom also were severely mistreated by their master. Following the cease of slavery, blacks were still denied the right to engage in legal marriage. However, they were allowed the option of having thier marriage certificate placed in a book by the Government, which wasn't at all satisfying for the former slaves, discussion of document 2. in the last document, ex slaves from Tennesse demanded equal rights and constructed a petition debating the state government. In the end I feel that, "The Meaning of Freedom," meant justice for the people and universal equality on all levels despite ones race or social status.
1.Why do you think blacks weren't granted the right to legal marriages immediately?
2.What did the Tennesee petitioners mean by "slavery corrupt itself?"
AT first I am a bit confused by your post. How you have done it makes it look like a CDL and not a TA. You do put it well about what these documents were about but you forgot to let us know about how the importance of this document was in history, and what were the other reasons for these documents to be written and published.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cathrena...this is the wrong format.Here is what you should be addressing according to the rubric:
ReplyDeleteFacilitator prep sheet: answer the following prompts to facilitate a discussion among your classmates on the assigned reading.
1. What is the author arguing?
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
I can see how you missed that though so go under course materials then click on rubrics and assignment schedules and click on the text analysis and facilatator prep sheet.
That first letter really hit me. I have a son and I couldn't imagine knowing he was being mistreated by someone and there being nothing I could do about it. Reading his letter which you could tell he had not much education but he still poured his heart out. In the last paragraph he says this, "Hon sir will you please excuse my Miserable writing & answer me as soon as you can I want get the little Children out of Slavery," To me this shows how much respect he has , or is at least pretending to have, for the man and how much he wants his children.
ReplyDeleteIn the second on a Report from Reverend from I agree the the slaves wanted more in the end of the of his letter he said, "The Colored people here, generally consider, this war not only; their exodus, from bondage; but the road to Responsibility; Competency; and an Honorable Citizenship." They wanted more and it sounded like he was standing up for them to get more. They had more than earned it even before the war. Like the end of the third document says, "The Government has asked the colored man to fight for its preservation and gladly has he done it. It can afford to trust him with a vote as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." I really love that last paragraph. The documents help prove that even after slavery had ended it was just the beginning of the battle for them.
I agree with the end of you posting they were trying to get freedom for all no matter what. It would take way to long I think to get it the way it should.