Name: Harvesting Freedom: African American Agrarianism in Civil war era South Carolina (Contributions in American History)
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Author: Akiko Ochiai
ISBN: 9780275979355

portada Harvesting Freedom: African American Agrarianism in Civil war era South Carolina (Contributions in American History)

Type

Physical Book

Publisher

Praeger

Author

Akiko Ochiai

Year

2004

Language

English

Pages

312

Format

Hardcover

ISBN13

9780275979355

Edition No.

Synopsis "Harvesting Freedom: African American Agrarianism in Civil war era South Carolina (Contributions in American History)"

From early in the Civil War, the Sea Islands of South Carolina set the stage for an exciting experiment in freedpeople's independence. Lowcountry South Carolina is particularly significant, not only for its aristocratic planters and its high profile in the secession, but for the degree of autonomy that the slaves acquired during seasons of absentee proprietorship. No place ever came closer to realizing the dream of Forty Acres and a Mule than this region, and consequently no place saw more vigorous struggles over land possession. Proving to the world their abilities to purchase lands, to organize cooperatives, and to participate in political parties, the African Americans of the lowcountry forged and fought for their own agrarian dreams.A highlight of Sea Island history was the Port Royal Experiment, when northern volunteer missionaries provided education to freedpeople, and General Rufus Saxton actively initiated Sherman's Field Orders commandeering the coast for African American homesteaders. When freedom gave them the chance, this group embraced education and democratic self-rule with abilities that even their supporters underestimated. This is the true story of their triumphs and failures in the struggle to claim the lands on which their forefathers toiled and died.