Although there was no coherent Union policy as to what to do with confiscated Confederate property, there was a clear drive among Black Southerners to own and work their own land. Explain that students will now look at a document describing some of those efforts. Divide students into smaller groups and have them read a primary source by Francis Bird, a White abolitionist. (Note: the document is long and could be further excerpted, or groups could address different sections.) As they read, each group should collaborate to answer the following questions  in a verbal discussion and in poster notes:

• How would you describe Bird’s attitude toward the formerly-enslaved people he observes? Circle or quote 2-3 passages that shaped your answer.  
• List  several types of farming situations that Bird describes. How are these attempts at free labor similar and different from one another?
• What obstacles did Black farmers face in their efforts to work the land?
• To what extent was the government supportive of Black farmers? List specific examples of government support and/or its opposite.
• To what extent were these efforts at free labor by Black Americans successful? Explain.

Bring the groups back together and have a full class discussion using the following questions as a guide:

• To what extent were these efforts at Black economic empowerment successful? How did you define success?
• Bird said in his testimony that: “All that is needed to establish…a truly loyal and prosperous community is that the men and women who have watered the soil with their tears and blood should be allowed to own it when they have earned it by their own labor.” Do you agree? Should this be the basis of Union policy? What might be the cost of such a policy? What would be the cost or outcome of not following this policy? (Make an inference.)
• Based on this single document, what can you say about the Union government’s role in supporting free labor? What other sources or evidence would you also wish to see?  

As an option to extend learning from this activity, consider assigning an individual written reflection after the discussion. Have students write a paragraph response to the following prompt, using details from the source in their writing:

• To what extent were these efforts at Black economic empowerment successful? How did you define success?