Up From Slavery

Booker T. Washington was once a slave but he later became a famous educator with freedom. His autobiographies not only attracted but also inspired and taught readers. Washington felt the new telegraph was of great importance amongst the slaves. This telegraph helped people to communicate whether they knew how to read or write and it was major during the Civil War. The Civil War made this telegraph important because communication was more expected.

"Finally the war closed, and the day of freedom came. It was a momentous and eventful day to all upon our plantation. We had been expecting it. Freedom was in the air, and had been for months. Deserting soldiers returning to their homes were to be seen every day. Others who had been discharged, or whose regiments had been paroled, were constantly passing near our place. The 'grape-vine telegraph' was kept busy night and day." (Up From Slavery, Page 2).

When the slaves were free, this caused great celebration. It was a good thing to visualize because it was such a happy moment for these people. They were fighting with all of their might to achieve their freedom and finally! Even with the war over, the telegraph was still a very important form of communication. It kept people busy, busy, busy with discussion and the happiness they shared just had to be spread. The closing of the Civil War was truly a lifetime change.