Were Free Blacks In The South Dbq Essay

In 1860, the North was not the place to be if you were an African American. In 1860, there was a lot of “free blacks” in the Northern states, but were they actually free?, they couldn't eat at restaurants, shop in markets or stores, or even have basic jobs. Free blacks were not free at all in the North. They had no rights, no political freedom, and they couldn't work a job. Free blacks could not eat at restaurants, shop in stores, work jobs, or even buy land. They had no political freedom either, they could not vote or represent anybody in court. They were not even allowed to work the most basic of jobs.

Black people were not very free at all in the North because they were not allowed to complete basic tasks such as shopping, dining out, or buying land. If the title for free black people was “free blacks” than they should have actually been free. “We shall not make the black man a slave, we shall not buy him or sell him; but we will not associate with him” (Document B line 1,2,3). Black people should have been allowed to do some basic things, atleast shopping for food and clothes, or buying the land that they want. “No one will employ
me; white boys won't work with me. Shall I be a merchant? No one will have me in office.”(Document C line 5,6)

Black people were not free in the North because they had no political freedom, they were not allowed to vote or represent anybody in court. If black people were free than they should have the same freedom and rights as the white men did. In all of Mid-Atlantic regions no black men were allowed to vote or represent people in court.(Document A Chart). With so many free black people it would have made more sense to let them vote since there would be more of a say for who the next president is or if the person is guilty or not in court. “He shall not be free to share deliberations of the jury box-to attend us in our courts”(Document B line 5,6)

Black people were not free in the North because they were not allowed to have basic jobs, they could not work at hospitals, drug stores, or even cook food for people. There was too many black people in the Northern states to not be employing them. The jobs that free black people were allowed was almost the same as when they were slaves, they were just not forced around as much.”Shall I be a merchant? no one will have me in office; White clerks won't associate.”(Document C line 6,7). Even when the black people were free white people would not acknowledge them and would not help them work or hold a job.”white boys won't work with me”(Document C line 5).

How free were free blacks from the north?
Not free at all. They had no rights, no political freedom and no opportunity of employment. Although some people may say that they had freedom and were free for their time, but they would be wrong because the freedom that the black people had was not freedom worth buying or living for. If black people in the south in 1860 were actually free, than they should have been able to have basic rights, they didn't have the ability to own their own land, shop at supermarkets, or have basic jobs, no white clerks would hire them. “We shall not make the black man a slave, we shall not buy him or sell him; but we will not associate with him”(Document B line 1,2,3). Therefore “free” blacks in the North were not actually free because they had no rights, no political freedom, and no job employment
chances.