What were Slaves freed immediately able to do at the end of the war he end of the war?

At the end of the Civil War, enslaved individuals were freed primarily through the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. They gained the legal right to pursue their own lives, which included finding work, reuniting with family members, and seeking education. Many sought employment in agriculture, domestic work, or as laborers in emerging industries, while others began to establish their own communities and churches, asserting their newfound freedom. However, they faced significant challenges, including discrimination, economic hardships, and the remnants of oppressive systems like Black Codes.