Freedman facts for kids
A freedman was a person who used to be a slave but was set free. This usually happened legally. Slaves could become freedmen in two main ways:
- Manumission: When their owner decided to give them freedom.
- Emancipation: When a large group of slaves was given freedom, often by a government.
Freedmen in Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans were quite open to freeing slaves compared to other groups around the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, about 5% of the people in Rome during its Imperial Age were freedmen.
Slaves could earn their freedom in several ways. Slaves who were educated or had special skills were often freed. This was so common that Emperor Augustus made a law saying slaves couldn't be freed before they turned thirty.
A slave might also be freed as a reward for long and loyal service. Many slaves were also set free in their owners' wills after the owner died.
Freedmen in Rome could own their own land. However, they were not considered full Roman citizens. They could not run for public office or hold a high rank in the army. The good news was that their children were given full citizenship.
Freedmen in the United States
In the United States, the term "freedmen" mostly refers to former slaves who were set free during the American Civil War.
Slaves who were freed before the war, usually one by one through their owners' wills, were often called "Free Negroes."
The Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves in states fighting against the United States (like the Confederacy) were free. However, it did not end slavery in the states that remained part of the Union.
Slavery was completely ended in the United States by the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment gave former slaves full citizenship. The Fifteenth Amendment gave voting rights to adult male freedmen. These three amendments are known as the "Reconstruction Amendments."
To help freedmen move from slavery to freedom, President Abraham Lincoln created the Freedmen's Bureau. This group sent agents across the Southern states. The Bureau helped by:
- Creating schools for freedmen, both adults and children.
- Helping freedmen make fair work agreements.
- Trying to reduce violence against freedmen.
The time after the Civil War was called Reconstruction. During this period, there were efforts to set up new governments in the former Confederate states and to help freedmen become voting citizens in society.
Images for kids
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Cinerary urn for the freedman Tiberius Claudius Chryseros and two women, probably his wife and daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Liberto para niños
