Henry McNeal Turner

http://theforgottenprophet.blogspot.com/

He was born in 1834 in Newberry courthouse, South Carolina. Although not born into slavery due to ancestral status, he was still perceived by others as a black man. He was never officially sold; instead he was taken in to live with the Quaker family. While under their household, and 15, he took a janitorial ob at a law firm. Although his task most often consisted of cleaning and organizing, the lawyers working at this from were able to notice the intelligence and knowledge this man beheld. Here, he was able to receive a suitable education. Toward the end of his janitorial job, he was converted into a Methodist and therefore decided his purpose in life would be to become a preacher. After many successful years of preaching and giving life changing revivals, when the civil war came around, he transferred his main focus onto politics. He helped greatly in the organization of the first regiment of the U.S colored troops and Georgia Republican Party. 

Andersonville

Andersonville prison, also known as camp Sumter, was a confederate military prison. It was known to hold more than the limit stated therefore not recognized positively. 45,000 men were imprisoned here. 13,00 of these men dying g=from diseases, poor sanitation, lack of food, not enough space, and the lack of shelter and a home before it was shut down in 1865, 14 months after it was opened and utilized. These prisoners only had 2 sources of food. One, being the daily truck bringing in portions of food for the prisoners. Keep in mind that these trucks only carried enough food to provide for the men within the limit of the prison. The second source was the Sweetwater creek, the stockade branch, in which flowed through the camp. Not only did this serve as a source of water but as well as a toilet. 

http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/11andersonville/11visual2.htm

Sharecropping and tenant farming

http://wikihistoria.wikispaces.com/Sharecropping

Sharecroppers

Sharecropping was a system used after the reconstruction period. A sharecropper, someone who was unable to own land but instead worked for someone who did, was paid for their labor with crops instead of cash. This was because farm owners, yet rich in land, were yet not rich in cash. This system was theoretically benefiting both parties, referring to land owners and sharecroppers. This was so because in the case of landowners, previously, they relied heavily on slaves to tend their crops. Since slavery has been newly abolished, a farmer has no one to tend to their crops. This is when sharecroppers, most often former slaves, step in. when enslaved, slaves were somewhat provided a decent shelter and a portion of food to survive on. By themselves, they had no one and nothing.  By becoming a sharecropper, the idea of not knowing when your next meal would be and where you would sleep tonight was relieved.  Also, while working, they were ensured with half of the harvest.

Tenant farmers

http://giselagehlerkarrasch.girlshopes.com/chartonsharecroppersandtenantfarmers/

Tenant farmers, unlike sharecroppers were able to own plowing animals, equipment and other supplies. As well, after each harvest they7 would receive either two thirds or three quarters of the harvest. Sharecroppers, on the other hand, were only promised half of the harvest; while also deducting from their “pay” extra necessities they asked for.   He “bosses” of tenant farmers often provided food and the most basic necessities due to the lack of farm credit. 

Freedmen's Bureau

The freedmen’s bureaus sole purpose was to ease the transition from a nation based on slavery, to one containing free black men. Another goal this bureau strived for was providing education for black women and men. In this, they exceeded. They were able to create fundamental colleges such as Howard University. Unlike their idea of having education provided for black, the transition itself was not easy when Politian’s or citizens refused to cooperate.  Day to day humans can relate to this situation in a way. Let’s say I was to make a goal of losing weight in the year 2013. For this I would have to do 2 things. 1;being eating healthy. My secondary action towards my goal would be to workout daily. I accomplish my second goal, but because my stomach will not cooperate with me, I keep on eating junk food. 

http://vshadow.vcdh.virginia.edu/freedmen1.html

Reconstruction Plans

The reconstruction was basically based on bringing southern states back into the union, regard that this as well brought many complications. One major complication that seemed to influence this movement the most were radical republicans. Radical republicans were those who strongly believed that those who were part of the confederate states should be punished toughly. Their reasoning for this was because the rebellious states were the ones responsible for the starting of the civil war.  They surely were not advocates for the idea of having 10% of the rebellious states oath to be part of the union, and be readmitted into the union. 

http://historygcp.wordpress.com/unit-iv-reconstruction/freedmens-bureau/

13th, 14th and 15th Amendment

http://www.xtimeline.com/error.html?aspxerrorpath=/__UserPic_Large/1634/ELT200711111851448733674.BMP

The 13^th amendment was added to the constitution in 1865. It declares slavery illegal in the United States. It was effective then, and is still effective now. Even though Abraham Lincoln had previously freed all slaves in rebellious states within the emancipation proclamation, it was never really followed through until later on.

Within the 14^th amendment, it states, no matter the color of a man’s skin, a man born in the United States therefore had the right and privilege to become a citizen of the United States.

Also relating to the 14^th amendment, comes the 15^th amendment. The in the 15^th amendment, it implicates that, again, no matter the color of a man’s skin, while still being a citizen of the united states, had the entitlement to vote. 

sherman's atlanta campaign and march to sea

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/11/1115-sherman-march-to-sea/

The Atlanta campaign was the first out of 2 campaigns that union general William t. Sherman commanded. His principle was to gain and occupy Atlanta, due to Atlanta’s role as a major railroad hub of the south and its industrial capabilities, in which would cause a significant loss for the confederacy. Confederate general Joseph Johnston army was outnumbered 2 to 1 by the union’s army. He then decided to use defensive tactics against Sherman to at the very least try to slow down union soldiers. This defensive work ethic was utilized as a distraction. Similarly, when you’re hiding something from your parents, you do or say things to distract them. While Johnston hoped to lure Sherman into costly head on attacks, Sherman would simply go around, or out flank, the CSA’s position. He then continued to advance to what he really wanted, Atlanta. By the time general Johnston would realize this, it would be too late to attack on the union soldiers to they would have to withdrawal from their defensive strongholds. Because he repeatedly had to withdrawal, allowing Sherman and his men to get closer and closer to Atlanta untouched, he was replaced by a more aggressive general, confederate general john b. hood. Hood was instructed to take on Sherman’s army head on and protect the city of Atlanta, and he did so as commanded. Even thought he put in his best effort to halt and stall the union soldiers, he was unsuccessful, allowing Sherman to get close enough to Atlanta to begin to bombard it with cannon fire. On September 2, 1864, General Hood was forced to withdraw from Atlanta leaving the city open for Union occupation. Sherman held the city for more than two months planning for what was to be called The March to the Sea. On Nov 15, 1864, Sherman’s army left Atlanta. He left Atlanta burning, ruining everything in his path. from 

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/8620/Fires-blaze-while-Union-soldiers-destroy-railroad-tracks-in-Atlanta

from November 15 until December 21, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman led some 60,000 soldiers on a 285-mile march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. The purpose of this “March to the Sea” was to frighten Georgia’s civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. After conquering Atlanta, Sherman set his mind on the rest of Georgia, and the punishment they deserved for being responsible for starting this war and these were to be the consequences they were to face. From November 15 until December 21, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman led some 60,000 soldiers on a 300-mile long and 60 miles wide march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. Throughout this time, Hood attempted to once again, lure Sherman in their direction towards Tennessee, leaving Sherman and his men a clear, smooth path to savannah. Sherman’s men were instructed to liberally forage on the county during the march. They were also instructed to not disturb citizen unless they resisted and fought back, then they were allowed to set their houses and crops on fire. There were only two battles during Sherman’s March to Sea and the battle of Griswoldville was the most tragic. Sherman’s battle-hardened army was attacked by a force of Georgia militia made up of men too old and boys too young to fight in the regular army.  In this battle over 650 of the Georgians were killed in comparison to 62 Union soldiers.  With no confederates to fight off any longer, they arrived in savannah Georgia December 22, 1864. When they arrived at savannah, they not wanting to be bombarded just like griswoldville was, surrendered to the union almost immediately. He then sent Abraham the good news in a telegram enunciating, “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah. . . .” This win was imperative for Lincoln to be reelected in 1864. 

http://www.ducksters.com/history/shermans_march_to_the_sea.php

video of shermans march to sea: http://www.history.com/topics/shermans-march/interactives/shermans-march

shermans field orders: http://www.sewanee.edu/faculty/Willis/Civil_War/documents/Sherman120.html