During the reconstruction period...
Slaves were granted freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation, yet they continued to be treated unequally by enemies in the South. They faced several hardships in trying to live out their freedom with violent threats and attacks against them. One of the most important prolonged privileges that the slaves wanted access to was an American education. There were organizations like the Freedmen's Bureau who wanted to help the Blacks, but little success took place for the freed slaves because most government officials were not willing to cooperate with their educational dreams. Many members of the government ignored the needs of the freed people because they felt there were more significant things to be taken care of during this reconstruction of democracy and society. Although Black men were given the right to vote through the 15th Amendment in 1870, this struggling race did not acquire civil rights like many citizens of the United States for a very long time. In Robert B. Elliott's essay on civil rights , he stated that "equality before the law is now the broad, universal, glorious rule and mandate of the Republic. No state can violate that."(1) The freed people wanted to be treated equally just as every American citizen and they knew education would help them overcome any obstacles in the way of such a dream. The actions taken to acquire equality through education would eventually lead to success and opportunity. Learning to perform the tasks of reading, writing, and arithmetic would enhance their knowledge and lead many to become influential leaders. Through their success in education, freed people would be able to stand out and make a difference for this nation. Therefore, receiving an education was a vital factor in the freed people's pursuit towards equality.
Created by: Angelvy Ban, Emily Rivera, Nina Valenzuela, Orlando Zuniga, & Yonatan Berihun
Created by: Angelvy Ban, Emily Rivera, Nina Valenzuela, Orlando Zuniga, & Yonatan Berihun