12.4 AFRICAN AMERICANS SEEK PROTECTION (1865) Although no longer enslaved, the freedmen faced significant obstacles. With limited education and economic resources, many ex-slaves found themselves at the mercy of their former masters. Cognizant of their precarious position, many African Americans attended conventions held throughout the South in order to discuss possible methods for protecting themselves, In this passage, a group of African Americans in Virginia describe their plight and request assistance from the U.S. Congress. Se FOCUS QUESTIONS 1, What are the delegates’ major concerns? 2. What protections do they request? 3. Why are the delegates dissatisfied with Andrew Johnson’s Reconstruction policies? 4. What does this reading suggest about race relations and Reconstruction policies in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War? €, the undersigned members of a convention of colored citizens of the State of Virginia, would respectfully represent that, although we have been held as slaves, and denied all recognition as a’ constituent of your nationality for almost the entire period of the duration of your government, and that by your permission we have been denied either home or country, and deprived of the dearest rights of human nature; yet when you and our immediate oppressors met in deadly conflict upon the field of battle—the one to destroy and the other to Save your government and nationality, we, with scarce an exception, in our inmost Souls espoused your cause, and watched, and prayed, and waited, and labored for your success...Ts at te gy va wether ee at Saas eo ee ere re at emt vos zc aparece Sessa see dapat a octane Tags asgenerenersa aaees Stee cissukenceanmian aes See eee riedsaigectt noceun ences Countcetercasteemona Eecaarantieee cece samaatntaeaometemancmaaes Powel tse Kote well ese on tha hb mi sepanictor remeturarauaia Tate oS RES Sore Soe iecte eurenn ants Si ceosscaemec eters ime warn youn in ator al sf seeping nek Gover of os yea eeecene cat Toc clin ee word hr ny faa fr Bsr he per fe Eats Secale et Sav veieeie mae Sanwa ge aay ee EET one wan eq can with te white ios varied a peated Gretna etree ‘Sty nc te tr inner le hem in es YO, ee SScke ne eit SES Sgupgesaaran tame Dnata a eee ead alain at maa toss Snag Sioa tee coerce sat Ti tn il emt he wt eet 12.5 ‘THADDEUS STEVENS ATTACKS PRESIDENTIAL RECONSTRUCTION (1865) eae of eC War, palin sharply gre ov the et ey Freire Prac Acca a hae pn ei plant desi ren he Stem el qucy al eo dal Rc mantel mor ue po sah ee Thies Sens (PAL a srt ab rly, alr a {tient nC Wee aye ne ‘ie Pourch Amano day ro 8% Focts Questions Setar Cte meet Pe alin SE How dou ik wie hone pon Stevens remats? Pes sume. wh wo cords at hla et Stes he LS by gems ate Green