EOTO #2: 40 acres and a mule

 Forty Acres and Mule is a phrase many have heard but few know the origin or the true meaning. It all began with a meeting between the Secretary of War Stratton, General Sherman, and 20 black ministers. The black ministers were asked how to best help their newly freed brothers. They simply said land because it would set them up for a future and to be self-sustaining.

The Foreman of the 20 ministers was Garrison Frazier. He was former slave form Greensboro North Carolina. Using 1000 dollars worth of gold and silver he was able to buy his and his wife's freedom. Like many of the other ministers he was a Baptist. The other half of the ministers were Methodist. While all of them weighed in on what they wanted Frazier was responsible for relaying that and finalizing the decision. 

The choosing of land was very intelligent for those ministers to do because of how versatile land could be. Land could be planted with any number of crops for self sufficiency or to make money. You could build towns and have shops where people could sell their crafted items. Having land gave black people power because land allowed you to be involved in government. It would increase their status and wealth quickly. 

Forty Acres and Mule originated from order 15 given by General Sherman. The overall objective was to give Black Americans land so that they could farm it and would gain self sufficiency while simultaneously stripping the Confederate Elite of some power. Sherman was not an abolitionist so it took coaxing from the Secretary of War and hearing those black ministers demand land for him to give into the order.  General Sherman was more keen on destroying the Confederate elites and decimating the southern way of life. The order has been broken down into three parts for ease of understanding.

Part 1 400,000 acres south of Charleston were set aside for the ownership and use by freed slaves. It is important to start here because slave after they were freed didn’t have much to do. Most did not have an education, trade, or property. They had no path forward so this is a place for them to go that is not sharecropping for their old masters. The land already had some rice fields and that gave them something to do. Logically further they could set up a school where those who knew how to read or write could teach others. Then they would also want to build a town and establish themselves. It is a great start.

Part 2 the community would be exclusively black people. No white person was allowed in the town excluding soldier who were necessary for protection until the freed slaves could protect themselves. Imagine being under the foot of a white master your whole life and you become free then have to work for a white man again. Most people would think that was insane to continue to work under the people that tried to hurt you and separate your family. If I were in a black man’s shoes and I was made the offer Sherman made I would take it. 

Part 3 every family was guaranteed 40 acres of land with no more than 800 feet of shore line. The guarantee of land and even a system to divide it up with no capital to pay for the land is invaluable. Put yourself in the shoe of a former slave who has nothing to show for life time of hard work but he would have a few skills that would be transferable to planting. You at least have a place to call your own and work at the end of the day

Overall order 15 was amazing in concept but failed in execution. The order was never carried out so it is seen as a great betrayal of the black communities trust. The phrase 40 acres and mule is now used commonly for broken promises especially those from the government.

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