This unit is one of a series that represents specific moments in history from which students focus on the meanings of landmark events. By studying a crucial turning-point in history, students become aware that choices had to be made by real human beings, that those decisions were the result of specific factors, and that they set in motion a series of historical consequences. The unit contains teacher background materials, lesson plans, and student resources including primary source documents and background materials. The unit has six objectives: (1) to trace the development of emancipation during the Civil War; (2) to describe the condition of the newly freed slaves; (3) to explain the circumstances that led to the Port Royal experiment; (4) to explain the impact of land ownership on the freedmen; (5) to trace the changes in attitudes of government officials toward a land policy for freedmen; and (6) to describe the northern and southern attitudes toward freed people and to explain the impact of these various attitudes on policies affecting African Americans. The unit consists of four lesson plans. The first, the Port Royal Experiment, explains the background of the experiment and examines how northern leaders differed over emancipation early in the war. The second, the life of freed people, develops historical empathy by considering the goals, conditions, and feelings of the freedmen, and examines attitudes and values of Northerners and Southerners, regarding the freedmen. The third lesson reveals the basics of the land redistribution issue. The fourth lesson is a role playing exercise on access to homesteads by freedom. Contains nine references. (DK)