1. What I first noticed about the ad was that James Dogan’s second wife gave his first wife permission to reunite and remarry him. When I was searching to find an ad, this one stood out to me the most since when I read it, the description interested me. Dogan fought in the Civil War and had to be separated from his family which was probably difficult for him as he lost contact with them during those times. I wonder how his family was able to see the ad and go look for him. Also, they must’ve moved somewhere else and he probably doesn’t know where.
2. When this ad was published in 1871, this significant event occurred during the Reconstruction era which took place in 1865-1877. It marks the end of the Civil War meaning that Dogan finished his role as a soldier and was able to return to his family through the ad. Also, according to Module 2: Emancipation and Reconstruction, it states, “Many formerly enslaved people (known as freedpeople) left plantations to search for family members who had been sold away. They published newspaper ads seeking information about long lost relatives.”(https://maryklann.wixsite.com/hist110/post/module-2-emancipation-and-reconstruction). Dogan was a slave prior to the Civil War. He used ads like the freedpeople to look for his family that he hasn’t heard from in several years. Around that time period, ads were commonly used for finding long lost family members.
3. Dogan participated during the Civil War as a soldier. The year 1871 indicates six years after the war ended, which was in 1865, meaning everyone who fought in it can go back to their normal lives with their families. The ad describes Dogan as an African American who was enslaved. He risked his life in two ways which were being greatly oppressed as a slave and having to endure such a violent battle in American history. It seems like the ways of reconnecting with loved ones at this time was through ads.
Poll link: https://app.sli.do/event/snrjtlmq/embed/polls/2a8a4f54-f88e-4c8f-9fe7-f5a2923ab6ed
Your analysis is really in deep about this ad. I am really surprised on the detail of that his second wife heartily consented him to return to his first wife. I can feel his second wife is a strong and brave woman who has such a great sympathy to her husband. I do not know what exactly happened in their marriage, but I think because of her true love for him, she knew what makes him happy and live well. The fact that he was able to return to his family is a very fortune event during that time when technology had not developed and searching for lost family was a very difficult thing.