What is the author arguing?
The three writers of these documents are writing to a person higher in power than themselves trying to get their point across. All three of these men are beyond thankful that they are free, but they each are asking for something more.
How does the author appeal to pathos in his writing?
These authors use emotional words and stories to try to get the reader to understand where they are coming from. The author of document one talks about his children being beaten by a master and there is nothing he can do about it. Anyone with a heart who reads that must feel some sort of sadness or remorse. The writer is not making anything up but talking from his heart and begging for help to get his family back. The Reverand in document two talks about how important marriage is. His words are emotional when he is talking about the bondage and responsibilty marriage takes and how important it is to newly freed slaves.
What is the historical significance of this document?
These letters show one of the biggest changes in history. When the Emancipation Proclamation stated that the slaves held in rebellion states are freed, that changed the world. It gave slaves/African Americans a brand new beginning and the right to live their lives like every other American, almost. Slaves were no longer slaves and could rejoin their families together without being seperated anymore. This document shows us that ex-slaves were allowed to marry now, as before when under slavery it was impossible. The emancipation proclamation didn't give slaves EVERY freedom right Americans have/had but it was the first step for them getting closer. The third document shows how proud slaves are to be free. They want to live the ways the Americans live. "But we do devote to its success, our hopes, our toils, our whole heart, our sacred, and our lives." Although the ex-slaves still have tough obstacles like living in poverty they express that they will live the American way faithfully and with excitement.
Do you find the author's argument convincing?
I do find these mens' arguments convincing or worthy of what they are asking. It may seem like some are beign selfish because the slaves were just freed so what else do they want, right? But I agree that if they are free now they should be treated like every other free American. Ex-slaves should be able to get married, to vote, to own land, and everything else they are asking. Why would Presidents and other people go through so much trouble to free them if once they are free they aren't treated much different. Dennis, the former slave looking for his family may have a hard time if his children are in a state where slaves weren't freed, and that I would understand if there is nothing that can be done about it. But what is the hurt in him trying, and who wouldn't try to get their family back.
The writers in this document are not only slaves, one is a Reverand, and the other was just a general petition to the Union. What we see is everyone is affected by the slaves being freed. Most people want to help out African American slaves, regardless of skin color. The ex-slaves are overjoyed to be free and are willing to do whatever it takes to prove themselves of equal value to whites. In this document one states, even if he must he would happily die for the country honoring its name. That is a powerful thought and it shows how much they really wanted this and regardless of the torture and the pain they have seen and gone through they still love their country and want to be brothers with the white men. The last part of this entire document sort of proves slaves' point on being treated as equal as the whites now that they are no longer slaves. "It can afford to trust him with a vote as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." Not only does this apply to slaves being allowed to vote but to everything else they are trying to accomplish. When slaves were allowed to enlist in the military, Americans were trusting the men they betrayed with weapons and taking their word they would defend their country. If through everything they went through they handed over a "bayonet," now that they are free they should be more than willing to allow voting, marriage, and every other political right.
Im sure thats what the white thought. " why do they want more freedom? we just gave them the Emancipation." But I think it was about time the white prepare for a change. The blacks had been slaves for many many many years. They worked hard for what they got and in return got very littel back. With the blacks fighting in the war it showed that dispite the way they were treated they were still goign to fight for thier land. These letters are all very compelling and show a great amount of appitude. It showed me the respect they still had for supriors after they were freeded.
ReplyDeleteThe Meaning of Freedom does illustrate just how heartbreaking the whole instituition and practice of slavery in the South trully was. I agree with your point that the words written in the petitions are so strong because they are spoken from those whose lives were so directly affected to various degrees by the evils of slavery. I would like to add how these documents imply the argument for the humanizing of the African-American former slave. Slavery, regardless of society or era is founded upon the de-humanization of those being enslaved. I feel this concept is vital in understanding why Slavery was practicd in the South and why Southerners would fight to the death for it. If Slaves were ever humanized, it would be virtually impossible for one to enslave another due to the empathy one would be forced to feel for those enslaved. These documents show the human side of those that have long suffered the bonds of being slaves. Even though the North had won and slavery was now ended, for true equality and freedom to be granted to the former slaves, all of America, both North and South would have to view the former slave as humans deserving of all rights and not just former slaves that should merely be happy to be free.
ReplyDeleteThe speeches on the meaning of freedom form the eyes of exslaves are very sad and they have every right to feel that they should be treat like anyother American the only issue was that a good amount of white Americans had a hard time dealing with the fact that many states were now free states and that African Americans that lived in those states were no longer slaves but free people. African Americans can fight in a war for America but are unable to vote that is just not right now matter what they deserve the same treatment as a white person does. These documents show slavery from the view of an exslave and the suffering that they had to endure was wrong and the white Americans needed to learn to accept the fact that African Americans were free people with feelings just like them and ever American citizen should and will have the same rights no matter what race, skin type, or age.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your breakdown of the reading. The ex-slaves should have been given all the rights that all free Americans have. The letters were more about getting further clarification on the rules or help to either change them or institute them. The story of Mr. Dennis was really inspiring to me. Not only did he want his children back but he wanted to start a school to teach other ex-slaves and children too. For someone not being born free and not being very illiterate to aspire to become a teacher is not only a dream coming true but also a way for him to "justify" and better his own life. That is a story I will not forget.
ReplyDeleteMr. Dennis and I have a little in common that family comes first and he wanted to give others opportunities that they didn't have or were not given because of there past lives. I want to become a professional baseball scout. I played for over 15 years and gave it up. Stupid mistake, now I have a chance to start over and give back to the game that gave so much to me. I want to give people the chances that I never got. It's what inspires me to pursue a new beginning. Just like the free slaves, they were about to start a whole new life and all of them deserved the chance.
Nice analysis. I feel that The Meaning of Freedom allows us to see tangible evidence of the question reeling through most freed black's minds at the time, "If we are given freedom, then why are we still trying to gain our rights?" Unfortunately, these letters bring clarity to the idea that "freedom" and "equality" mean two very different things to whites. Through these petitions, we can see that confusion has begun to grab hold of of many former slaves. Why is it that our "freedom" is not as free as the white's "freedom"? Equality is much more difficult battle, which we begin to see as it takes generations of blacks fighting social injustice to make their equality recognized. "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." What a powerful statement. "...and gladly he has done it"...if I can be allowed to attempt to interpret this. Slaves had never done anything GLADLY. They were forced. Fighting for THEIR country they were glad...to fight for freedom and to make the choice to do so. The 2nd amendment to the constitution, especially during this time period, was one of the most important and highly emphasized rights outlined in the constitution. Therefore, if such an important freedom was granted to freed blacks, then why were they not allowed the other rights? It is an extremely valid question, but one that is answered with prejudice and social injustice for years to come. Toxic ideals such as those infused in the idea of Manifest Destiny plague whites and leave blacks with muddled ideas of what "freedom" really means. Although they've left the chains of the slaveholder, the chains of social injustice are a very real burden as well.
ReplyDeleteGood analysis of the text! You bring up a number of interesting points.
ReplyDeleteThe first document is really heartbreaking. You feel so sorry for this man. And the other documents make more than valid points, I feel. I realize that much of what was happening in the 1860s felt like a huge change from the norm to white southerners. Yet, if the argument is that black people are equally men, therefore they cannot be slaves, it's strange to imagine why they wouldn't then have the same rights as men with whiter skin.
I'll agree with you that these documents are incredibly important. They put a voice to the events that we are reading about. It allows us to momentarily step into the past and have both a better understanding of the document's writer, and the person who was probably meant to read it.
Great write up!
ReplyDeleteThese articles really were insightful on what other issues arouse after the Emancipation of the slaves. They did have their freedom, but there were numerous other things brought up in the text that they also wanted. Voting was mentioned, then of course the right for ex slaves to marry; all really harmless things but yet were not allowed. They were able to fight for country, yet they still were not permitted the rights that the rest of the white society were allowed. And that first letter was really moving. He had to ask for help so that he could go free his children from their masters, you cant more emotional appeal than that. This text was a great read and provided a first hand look at some of the complications that arose after the laves were freed.