How did former slaves get land after the civil war?

Answer 1

After the Civil War, former slaves sought land primarily through the promise of "40 acres and a mule," a policy proposed by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. However, this promise was largely unfulfilled, and many freedmen resorted to sharecropping, renting land from white landowners in exchange for a share of the crops. Additionally, some acquired land through purchases or by participating in land redistribution efforts, though systemic barriers and discrimination often hindered their success. Overall, the transition to land ownership was fraught with challenges and inequities.