Free African Americans Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Free African Americans?

Free African Americans of Virginia were a community of free, self-governing African Americans who lived in the state of Virginia prior to the Civil War. This population was comprised of individuals who had been freed from slavery, those whose parents or grandparents had been born free, and those who had purchased their freedom.The history of Free African Americans in Virginia dates back to the 17th century when some slaves were granted manumission by their owners. By 1800, there were almost 30,000 free African Americans living in Virginia; this represented approximately 10 percent of all African American Virginians at the time. These individuals often lived in small communities around large cities such as Richmond and Norfolk where they worked as farmers, craftsmen and tradespeople. Some were able to purchase land and become property owners while others found success through education and hard work that enabled them to achieve a degree of economic independence. During the Civil War era many Free African Americans served on both sides as soldiers or laborers while most continued working their trades including carpentry, blacksmithing, tailoring and barbering. After the war ended in 1865 with emancipation for all enslaved persons throughout America, former slaves met with other Free African American Virginians to discuss how best to rebuild their lives from slavery into freedom. They formed mutual aid societies such as The Society for the Relief for Freedmen & Their Friends which provided food aid during Reconstruction era poverty and provided financial assistance for medical needs through its own hospital network for members only. In 1867 a new constitution was established that granted full citizenship rights to all former slaves regardless of skin color or gender which allowed them greater access not just to employment opportunities but also more political power than before liberation from slavery days. Starting in 1869 suffrage was extended to Black men giving them an even stronger voice within society while still facing continued forms of discrimination such as segregated transportation systems like streetcars which prohibited Black passengers from riding with Whites until 1896 when this law was overturned by court decision due largely due efforts led by prominent civil rights activists John Mitchell Jr., former slave Robert Purvis and others at risk during Reconstruction period politics times leading up towards eventual integration within America right after WWI era closeout into modern day society now existing today still yet keeping some forms alive even though much progress has been made since then too.