HIST 2057 Lecture : Reconstruction And The Freedman Notes
Document Summary
Reconstruction and the freedman: transformation of war aims- Northerners did not want slavery to expand into new land acquired by america. They did not care if it was in the south. North saw that if they got rid of slavery it would weaken the south and strengthen the north. Great britain privately was on the side of the south, but british public opinion aliened with the north. Things don"t change over night but they do change over time. They realize that they can strength the union army by enlisting blacks from the south. Some were not ok because it would be arming the black population. Over 200,000 black people fought for the union army and navy, around 10%. This does make a difference and allows them to gain the upper hand military. The parts that blacks played in the war helps promote their case after the war.
