Who are the freedmen?

Freedmen are individuals who were formerly enslaved and gained their freedom, particularly in the context of the United States following the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. They played a significant role in shaping post-Civil War society, as many sought education, land, and political rights. The term can also refer to freed individuals in other historical contexts, but in the U.S., it is closely associated with the African American experience during Reconstruction.