Despite the history of slavery in the south, many free African Americans chose to stay there after the Civil War. What factors might have caused them to make this choice?
I think it's because they were able to get jobs in the south or they were just more familiar with the south or they were standing up against racism. Not sure, who knows?
2006-11-27 14:25:37 · 6 answers · asked by scurvybc 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Travelling north took money, something most of the free blacks lacked, along with substantial property. They stayed in the South because that is what they were familiar with. Many worked as sharecroppers on the very same plantations on which they once served as slaves.
Your conjectures on the reasons as to why many stayed in the South were correct. Lack of education was also a factor. The American blacks only began to migrate northward near the end of the 19th century and especially during the early years of the 20th century, when conditions in the South compelled many to move northward in search of better jobs.
2006-11-27 14:36:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
After the Civil War, African Americans were released from slavery. When this happened, they had no home, no job, and no money. The basically wandered the streets until the Southern whites came up with the idea of sharecropping which allowed the African Americans part of the crops, but along with the help of Black Codes (Jim Crow Laws) they were treated as though they were still slaves. African Americans simply had no way of getting to the North - no mode of transportation - and no money to get there either.
2016-03-13 00:00:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes proof is still here and the south is full of Slave ancestors. Slave masters weren't all horse whipping racist like in the movies. Plantation owners here bought slaves cause it was what they knew and what they were taught to do to make money. Many Masters took care of the slaves like a community and when the slaves were freed had no where to go so they stayed where there home was where they knew the people and could make a living Slave familys even took there masters last name at times. By all means Slavery is one of the worst things man has done but I'm just saying it was a way of life at one point in time and people lived the way they were brought up.
2006-11-27 15:05:58 · answer #3 · answered by Benjo 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's a long walk from Alabama to Ohio. And are you going to go with all your friends and family? Before the war, except for the fact of slavery itself, many slaves were in as good a shape in terms of day-to-day living as many whites. Southern society had its wealthy plantation owners, but there was little industry, and the bulk of the population were really poor. After the war, especially after a couple years' Reconstruction, the southern states were economically devastated (hence my joke about walking-most rail lines and even horses and mules were gone). Ex-slaves were given positions of power and promised all sorts of things, as politicians are wont to do. And the northern states were not particularly welcoming, anyway. I imagine many took the position "better the devil you know..."
2006-11-27 14:53:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes they were able to get jobs in the South. Many of them worked on the same plantation as when they were slaves. They were poor so they didn't have much other opportunity.
2006-11-27 14:34:57 · answer #5 · answered by The Bible (gives Hope) 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
they stood out in the snow to much during the winter
2006-11-27 14:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by sirblackie88 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋