Civil War and Emancipation

Civil War and Emancipation. . , With the end of the Civil War in 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Augusta to assist in establishing peace. As slavery's legal and economic defenses collapsed, the Springfield church emerged as a religious, social and political forum for black Augustans. By 1880, Springfield's membership surpassed 1200 congregants. Throughout the Emancipation and Reconstruction eras, Springfield members played leading roles in the formation of the Georgia Equal Rights Association, the establishment of an office of the Freedmen's Bureau, the development of schools, and the publication of the Colored American and Loyal Georgian newspapers. In an article announcing a meeting of freed persons at Springfield, a writer for the Colored American remarked: "We are living in an important era in the history of the world. A large number of our citizens were, but a few months ago since, held in bondage; now, that they are free men they are entitled to all the rights of citizenship. How to secure these rights is the important question." (Colored American, December 30, 1865), In the aftermath of the Civil War, African Americans in Augusta and around the South gathered in conventions and meetings to deliberate upon the meaning of emancipation and citizenship. During the period of Reconstruction, the Springfield sanctuary served as an important venue for many of these events and programs. On January 10, 1866, thousands of African American residents and the "friends of equal justice in Georgia" attended a Freedmen's Convention at the Springfield Baptist Church., Freedmen's Convention. , To the friends of equal justice in Georgia, You are invited to send Delegates to a Convention to be held is the city of Augusta, on Wednesday, the 10th day of January next., Believing that the time has come when we should consult together, and that important questions demand our immediate attention. We feel that it is important that the friends from every part of the State meet, and carefully consider the present state of affairs., We are living in an important era in the history of the world. A large number of our citizens were, but a few months since, held in bondage: now, that, they are freemen they are entitled to all the rights of citizenship. How to secure these rights in the important question. We appeal to the nobler feelings of those in authority asking them to deal, justly by all the cities of the State. With this spirit let us assemble and show to the world that the friends of equal justice, are, also, the friends of law., Counties that have large cities in them are invited to send five delegates, and those that have small towns are invited to send three, by the request of , Many Citizens, (caption) Image of Henry McNeal Turner, one of the founders of the Equal Rights Convention that began at Springfield and set the stage for the Republican Party in Georgia. , Courtesy of the New York Public Library Date: 1904