40 Acres and a Mule: A Broken Promise of Reparations

In January 1865, General William Tecumseh Sherman issued Field Order #15, known as '40 Acres and a Mule', aiming to provide land reparations to newly freed enslaved people. This plan emerged during Sherman's destructive March to the Sea, where he seized and abandoned Southern lands. The idea was to allocate 40 acres to each freed family, punishing Confederate landowners and aiding freedmen's transition to freedom. However, the plan was never fully realized, and no land or mules were distributed.

What was the primary purpose of General Sherman's Field Order #15?

Explain the significance of the phrase '40 Acres and a Mule' in the context of reparations.

What were the consequences of General Sherman's actions during the March to the Sea?

Discuss why General Sherman believed it was important to provide land to formerly enslaved families.

What ultimately happened to the promise of '40 acres and a mule' for freed black people?