The Main Question:

How were African Americans to achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and full citizenship after emancipation from slavery?

The Setting:

Slavery destroyed many African American families.

Slavery deprived African Americans of land and resources.

Slavery limited African American productivity skills to basic agricultural skills.

Slavery robbed African Americans of access to education.

Slavery eliminated the possibility that African Americans could gain political experience.

Immediately after emanicipation, ex-slaves suffered from broken families, poverty, and a lack of education, economic skills, and political experience.

The Opposition:

Most Southern whites did not believe that African Americans deserved freedom and equality, prosperity, and citizenship.

Most Northern whites were not overly concerned that African Americans did not have full freedom and equality, prosperity, and citizenship.

Many white males organized to defend the integrity of white manhood. Organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan used both legal and illegal means to achieve racist ends.

Your Challenge:

Figure out the best strategy for former African American slaves to achieve freedom and equality, prosperity, and citizenship. Your choices will determine how you seek "progress."

Begin to Make Your Choices