Freedom From Deep Down

 Last week, we learned about the effect of power from above, the government, or below, the slaves, and how it impacted the abolition of slavery. We read several documents, like The Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural Address, and watched a few video clips to answer the essential question. The essential question is, "Who 'gave' freedom to enslaved Americans? Did freedom come from above or below? To what extent were Abraham Lincoln's actions influenced by the actions of enslaved Americans?

       After reviewing all the material and lessons from class, it can be concluded that freedom of slaves came from below. Abraham Lincoln's goal was to keep the union intact, regardless of the affect on others, good or bad. In The Letter to Horace Greeley, it is stated by Lincoln, " If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that." This shows that the slaves hope of being freed had little effect on Lincoln's decision to free them, his only interest is keeping the union together. To strengthen this point, in the Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln says this regarding his position in freeing the slaves, "To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than restrict the territorial enlargement of it." Again, the union reuniting is much biter on Lincoln's agenda than actually freeing the slaves because of how cruel and wrong it is. When Lincoln establishes the Emancipation Proclamation it is mentioned, "all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free", showing once again that the freedom of slavery is used as a tactic to stop rebellions and to reunite the union. Because freedom of slavery was just a war strategy, freedom didn't really come from above. The slaves, from below, worked extremely hard and persevered in order to gain their freedom. In the Engraving "Slaves from the plantation of Confederate President Jefferson Davis arrive at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi" 1863, you can see hundreds of slaves taking matters into their own hands, and settling with the union army, to bother them and force them to call attention to slavery. Slaves would follow the union soldiers in order to make their presence known, so the soldiers will draw attention to the issue of slavery to the government.

 

Slaves from the plantation of Confederate President Jefferson Davis arrive at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi

from edline.net

 

    Personally, I believe that freedom from below, is stronger than freedom from above, because it is a change that the people of the country want, not a forced rule, even if it is for the good. Recently, there has been many new stories about injustices in the police forces due to blacks. This past week there has been riots in Baltimore, Maryland. The people from Maryland, the below in this situation, are taking action against, what they believe to be unjust and unfair. This isn’t the only case of riots that have taken place because of mistreatment of African Americans. In Ferguson, Missouri, there were also many riots and protests due to the way police were treating blacks. It means so much more, that the people who feel strongly against something will stand up for it, rather than the president just make a law and dismiss it.