What are they talking about when they say "40 acres and a mule"? Only answer if you KNOW!?

Question

wut i mean is where did this come from, was it something ACTUALLY promised from the US government? and if so, why wasnt it already given?

could you give me more details bruce? what do you mean a campaign promise? campaign for what?

Answer 1

Below is a link to a PBS site. It has a copy of the field order that was issued by Union General William Sherman granting 40 acres and a mule to freed "***** heads of families". there were tracts of land and army mules handed out, but it was confined to specific areas of the south. I can't realy speak on how dificult it was to actually get these items or how many people tried or were denied.

Second link shows where, aperantly, President Johnson ordered that the land issued out be returned to it's previous owners.

The third link is a rather indepth paper by Gerene L Freeman about this subject with foot notes and references

Answer 2

Because the 40 acres and a mule was a campaign promise and not actually made into a law.

Answer 3

If I am remember correctly the US used this as a sell technique 40 acres of land and a mule, in todays terms by the shampoo and body wash and get the conditioner for free. I believe it was really given because mules were pretty easy to come by.

Answer 4

It was a promise that was given to freed slaves that once they were freed after the Emancipation Proclamation they would receive 40 acres of land and a mule to help till it.....

It was a promise that was never fulfilled.......

Your sister,
Ginger

Answer 5

It was the slogan of land reformers after the civil war...heres an article about it...
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/150.html

Answer 6

FreddyBoy1 a more ACCURATE article http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1994/4/94.04.01.x.html