One of the most important changes of Reconstruction came in 1806. A new law passed by Congress gave African American people the right to make and enforce contracts. Contracts are legal agreements that people write down on paper and sign. This law gave them control over their lives in ways that enslaved people had never had before. Suppose an African American worker took a job cooking for her former master. One day he told her to clean the floors of his house, but that was not part of her job. Which type of contract would help her? a marriage contract that showed that she was legally married a rental contract that showed that she owned property that someone had borrowed an employment contract that showed what work she had agreed to do a sale contract that showed that she had bought her house
Real Tutor Solution
Answer
Solution
Sign in to Unlock Answers for Free!
A Learning Platform Trusted by Millions of Real Students and Teachers.
Unlock Reviewed and approved by the UpStudy tutoring team
The Deep Dive
An employment contract that outlined her specific job duties would be the best choice for her situation. This contract would clearly define the scope of work she agreed to perform, helping protect her from being asked to do tasks outside her job description, like cleaning floors if that wasn't part of the arrangement. In fact, having an employment contract was revolutionary at the time, as it empowered African Americans to assert their rights and demands in the workplace. This legal foundation allowed them to negotiate terms and ensure they received fair treatment, something that had been denied to them under slavery.
