“Redistributing the Land to Black Refugees” by: William T. Sherman, Special Field Order No.15(1865) Brandon Cavillo-Chou, Calvin Dolloso, Lydia Morohunfola Period: 5

Historical Context  The special field order written by William T. Sherman, “Redistributing Land to Black Refugees” was created after his infamous march across Georgia, in which he was an instrumental key in beating the Confederacy.  The special field order number 15 was written in January of  Aimed to deal with the challenge of displaced slaves.  Once Andrew Jackson became president he reversed Sherman’s policy.  Allowed for “Negroes” to be able to live the same lives as whites.  Gave them a whole lot more freedom to do things, such as having land, not having to be dealt around, and can do anything for their livelihood.  However there will be an Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, whose duty shall be to visit the settlements, to regulate their police and general management.

Intended Audience  The intended audience of the piece is mainly for African- Americans and the general public because it addresses that African-Americans are able to posses such rights by an order given by a union general.  Sherman destroyed the confederacy and liberated thousands of enslaved Africans.  “The islands from Charleston... Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes now”  “By the laws of war, and orders of the United States military authority and the acts of congress.”

Purpose  -The purpose of the meeting was for Sherman and Stanton to gather information on how freedmen understood the war, and how they imagined their future in a post-war America.  - Based on the conversation that took place that evening, on January 16, 1865, William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15.  - Upon Sherman’s order, 400,000 acres of land, including Georgia’s Sea Islands and the mainland thirty miles in from the coast, were redistributed to newly freed slaves.

Point of View  Sherman’s P.O.V  Sherman wanted to understand how freed blacks would imagine their lives after the war.  It was the first time federal officials confirmed with freed slaves about the future of African Americans.  Cared for how the war meant to the black’s knowing that there were black troops present in the war

Point of View (Pt. 2)  Black’s P.O.V- (Slaves/Freed)  The event came so sudden, that they weren’t prepared for it.  Being able to leave the plantation with nothing but their clothes on their backs  Slave felt their purpose was to be someone who had no control over their life’s decisions.  The idea gave birth to the idea of prove that the Emancipation Proclamation would finally give them a true stake in the land they have toiled on for centuries

Outside Information  The Special Field Order No.15 is quiet similar to the many acts used to relocate native Americans. Both of these orders provide land to races that were once been enslaved by the United States. These act both exclude any white presence in the territories given to the people; however both involve checkups on the communities in order to monitor their lives in order to assure they are following the guidelines of the agreement. Both these act claim to give freedom to the oppressed but still force assimilation onto them.

Synthesis  The Special Field Order provided a solution to the influx of now free slaves who are without a home or job. The Order accommodate former slaves with land and the freedom to establish t heir own community similar to the act used for Native Americans. Despite it good intention the special Field Order could be seen an earlier forms of the Jim Crow Laws which legalize segregation between races, on the grounds that the order separated whites and blacks thus allowing racial tensions to surge without a way to fix it.

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