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Slaves No More
The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately end the institution of slavery in America, it took the enforcement of that proclamation by Union troops. The period of time at the end of the Civil War, when freedom from bondage was being imposed by the advancing Union armies, was a tenuous time for the former slaves. Many White Southerners refused to accept the freedom of their former "property," and took actions to re-impose their authority. But after the official surrender of the South, many were forced to begrudgingly accept the freedom of their former slaves. Leon Litwack's article entitled "Slaves No More" examines this period of time and how the presence of Union soldiers was often the determining factor in how free the former slaves were allowed to be.
Most Americans learn that slavery ended in the United States when Abraham Lincoln issued the "Emancipation Proclamation" on January 1, 1863, however, on January 2, 1863 and for some time after, Southern slaves found themselves in a position that was no different than before the proclamation. Leon Litwack's article examines how it was not until Union military forces entered into Southern territory and began...
From the time when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to the capture of the Confederate capital of Richmond and the official surrender of the South soon after, the newly won freedom of the former slaves was often very much in doubt. The author provides many examples of the ambiguous situation many former slaves found themselves in. But in other areas of the South, particularly the large cities where Union troops were stationed, he provides a number of examples of how former slaves celebrated their freedom without trouble.
Litwack makes a point to expose the tenuous freedom the former slaves were granted as the Civil War ended. While at first the reaction of the former slaves was timid, the arrival of Union troops soon led to the expectedly joyous and celebratory mood. Former slaves went so far as to chant in unison an old freedom song Slavery chain done broke at last. But the celebration soon ended when the Union troops moved on and the former slaves were left at the mercy of their former masters; who were none too pleased at the recent festivities. Many White Southerners soon took steps to re-impose their authority on…
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