Freedman's Bureau Flyer Analysis
Author The Freedman’s Bureau flyer was written in 1866 by Democrats, after Congress passed the Freedman’s Bureau Act, as well as the Homestead Act in an attempt to help out African Americans. The Democrats were very opposed, and even resented Congress for aiding the African Americans to gain stability and security so they purposefully portrayed white men as the victims of racial injustice. Therefore, pointing out that there is a clear bias towards Radical Republicans and their support of African American rights and freedoms.
Audience
The intended audience of this flyer is white men. This is because the cartoon depicts the white man doing manual labor that the African American slaves would have done before the Civil War. The flyer also targets white men because of the fact that they are well-known slave owners and relied on the labor of slaves to prosper, so The Freedman’s Bureau took a direct hit on their ability to profit. The depiction of the black man in a laid back position with ripped clothing and a goofy smile on his face also resonates with the Southern black stereotypes that they are uneducated fools and the white man deserves praise for being a morally and intellectually superior being. The poster also mentions two men, Clymer and Geary, who were in the running for governor, and so now …show more content…
more specifically the flyer targets property-owning white men because they were the only people who could vote at the time.
Argument
The source’s argument is that the white man is being cheated of his natural freedom so that the black man can enjoy various luxuries and leisure, not taking into account that African Americans were wrongfully exploited for their labor and they deserve a chance to be recognized as functioning citizens of the country. The flyer victimizes the white man, reversing the roles of slave and landowner to favor Southerner’s opinion in the matter. The poster attempts to get Southerners to vote for Clymer who was running for governor of Pennsylvania who, supported the opposition of the Freedman’s Bureau and favored the President. Much like the poster persuaded, “The Freedman’s Bureau! An agency to keep the Negro in idleness at the expense of the white man…support Congress and you support the Negro, sustain the President and you protect the white man.” The way the line is worded even pushes a pointed argument that the white man is innocent and that the black man is guilty for wronging him.
Historical Context At the time that the source was published Congress had passed The Freedman’s Bureau Act and, previously, The Homestead Act.
This allowed African Americans, previously in servitude, to gain protection and certain liberties that they weren’t allowed prior to the Civil War. Of course, most white men were outraged that black people were allowed such freedoms and “luxuries” at their expense. “For 1864 and 1865, the Freedman’s Bureau cost the tax-payers of the Nation, at least Twenty-Five Millions of Dollars.” This portrays that the Freedman’s Bureau is causing a severe issue nationwide, when in reality the problem is rooted in the white-supremacist male ethnographic
group. Some earlier historical events that took place before the publishing of this document, and influenced the persuasive techniques that were used, was the Civil War. Prior to the War, African Americans were enslaved and exploited for their labor, and thus the “modern take” of this in the flyer shows the white man being exploited by the African American. The line, “The white man has to work to keep his children and pay his taxes.” References the pre-Civil War economic and social situation, in which the slave was being wrongfully treated while the landowner idly stood by and obtained profit.
Historical Significance This document is historically important because of the fact that it shows the popular perception of African Americans and portrays some social norms, which at the time were centered around white superiority. Though, with the rise of the Freedman’s Bureau Act, used as a safeguard for newly emancipated slaves, the white men were taxed to be able to fund the program. To the African Americans this was retribution for enslaving them, but the white men saw it as unfair for them to pay extra to have these socially inferior people live their lives in “luxury” when in reality they were just blinded by their racial superiority. This document is also important because it shows the political and moral divide occurring at the time. In which, Congress sought to protect African Americans after enduring such hardships. While the President sought to protect the citizens and social majority, that at the time was defined as property-owning white men. The line, “Freedom and No Work,” is, in a way, ironic because prior to the Civil War the white man was allowed freedom at the expense of slave labor. Though, the Democratic Party is attempting to victimize and prioritize white rights by switching the roles and saying that now the white man has to work for his supposed economic freedom. Another line that references pre-Civil War times is, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.” This suggests that the white man is slave to the African Americans and they work hard to earn their money only to have a black man benefit from the fruits of their labor. Again, this indicates the victimizing of white men to relate to the public at the time, and get them to side with Clymer, who will supposedly prioritize their rights. The quote is also an example of the distorted notion that white men are suffering so that a former slave could live in luxury, which, their eyes the African Americans don’t deserve.
Audience
The intended audience of this flyer is white men. This is because the cartoon depicts the white man doing manual labor that the African American slaves would have done before the Civil War. The flyer also targets white men because of the fact that they are well-known slave owners and relied on the labor of slaves to prosper, so The Freedman’s Bureau took a direct hit on their ability to profit. The depiction of the black man in a laid back position with ripped clothing and a goofy smile on his face also resonates with the Southern black stereotypes that they are uneducated fools and the white man deserves praise for being a morally and intellectually superior being. The poster also mentions two men, Clymer and Geary, who were in the running for governor, and so now …show more content…
more specifically the flyer targets property-owning white men because they were the only people who could vote at the time.
Argument
The source’s argument is that the white man is being cheated of his natural freedom so that the black man can enjoy various luxuries and leisure, not taking into account that African Americans were wrongfully exploited for their labor and they deserve a chance to be recognized as functioning citizens of the country. The flyer victimizes the white man, reversing the roles of slave and landowner to favor Southerner’s opinion in the matter. The poster attempts to get Southerners to vote for Clymer who was running for governor of Pennsylvania who, supported the opposition of the Freedman’s Bureau and favored the President. Much like the poster persuaded, “The Freedman’s Bureau! An agency to keep the Negro in idleness at the expense of the white man…support Congress and you support the Negro, sustain the President and you protect the white man.” The way the line is worded even pushes a pointed argument that the white man is innocent and that the black man is guilty for wronging him.
Historical Context At the time that the source was published Congress had passed The Freedman’s Bureau Act and, previously, The Homestead Act.
This allowed African Americans, previously in servitude, to gain protection and certain liberties that they weren’t allowed prior to the Civil War. Of course, most white men were outraged that black people were allowed such freedoms and “luxuries” at their expense. “For 1864 and 1865, the Freedman’s Bureau cost the tax-payers of the Nation, at least Twenty-Five Millions of Dollars.” This portrays that the Freedman’s Bureau is causing a severe issue nationwide, when in reality the problem is rooted in the white-supremacist male ethnographic
group. Some earlier historical events that took place before the publishing of this document, and influenced the persuasive techniques that were used, was the Civil War. Prior to the War, African Americans were enslaved and exploited for their labor, and thus the “modern take” of this in the flyer shows the white man being exploited by the African American. The line, “The white man has to work to keep his children and pay his taxes.” References the pre-Civil War economic and social situation, in which the slave was being wrongfully treated while the landowner idly stood by and obtained profit.
Historical Significance This document is historically important because of the fact that it shows the popular perception of African Americans and portrays some social norms, which at the time were centered around white superiority. Though, with the rise of the Freedman’s Bureau Act, used as a safeguard for newly emancipated slaves, the white men were taxed to be able to fund the program. To the African Americans this was retribution for enslaving them, but the white men saw it as unfair for them to pay extra to have these socially inferior people live their lives in “luxury” when in reality they were just blinded by their racial superiority. This document is also important because it shows the political and moral divide occurring at the time. In which, Congress sought to protect African Americans after enduring such hardships. While the President sought to protect the citizens and social majority, that at the time was defined as property-owning white men. The line, “Freedom and No Work,” is, in a way, ironic because prior to the Civil War the white man was allowed freedom at the expense of slave labor. Though, the Democratic Party is attempting to victimize and prioritize white rights by switching the roles and saying that now the white man has to work for his supposed economic freedom. Another line that references pre-Civil War times is, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.” This suggests that the white man is slave to the African Americans and they work hard to earn their money only to have a black man benefit from the fruits of their labor. Again, this indicates the victimizing of white men to relate to the public at the time, and get them to side with Clymer, who will supposedly prioritize their rights. The quote is also an example of the distorted notion that white men are suffering so that a former slave could live in luxury, which, their eyes the African Americans don’t deserve.