The+Group

**What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis)** Through no war, physical or otherwise, will the opinions and hearts of the masses alter. The Civil War was no different; it left the south, as well as the north, more aggrieved than at the start of it all. And, in the south especially, it cut deep, leaving scars that even time has trouble healing. It is no wonder that the reconstruction of this nation faced such hard times. It was a noble endeavor at civil rights for all (men) and restoration of a tattered and drained nation, but it was bound to fail. No plan, no rights, no military, no fights would dictate otherwise.Looking back at history and creating the "should have"s is a much easier task than anyone faced in the late 1800s. And by looking back this group has come to the consensus that the Civil War was not fought for no reason; it was not fought, and many did not die, for America to remain unchanged. America was founded on the platform of (supposed) equality. And this war was just the catalyst needed to make it possible for such an immense reshaping of a nation as to give all its (male) citizens equal rights. It shouldn't lose such an exceptional chance; the south wouldn't secede again. Focusing more on the rights, necessities and safety of the newly freed people and less on the reunification of a fatigued country, reunification could have created an America that perhaps we may not even recognize today.  What should be done to the ex-Confederates? (Lia) To the men who chose to secede from their own Union, rebel against their own country and cause more than enough death and destruction, we do not take the matter lightly. The Confederates, whether they be generals or officers, soldiers or lunettes, will be permanently dismissed from any military duties they might have held before the war. Seeing as many foot soldiers were common farmers and working citizens, this may not be an issue. But for generals, such as the stately Robert E. Lee, who planned and coordinated attacks against the Union army and is an experienced military officer, we relinquish you from your "duties", or crimes, and order that you take no part in any militia branch of the United States of America. Retaining rebel officers who specifically took up arms against their home country will not be tolerated nor would be wise. No further punishment will be given, but be forewarned; if any such act of terrorism and violence should be proved in a court of law to have happened again, you will be exiled to a non-U.S territory or (depending on the extent of the crime) put in front of a jury of your peers to forego further penalization.

 What should be done for the freedmen? (Lia) As was many atrocities of this country, slavery was an act that was unjust, immoral and should have been ended sooner. Centuries after slavery was introduced to the colonies, we are just now liberating these African Americans from the chains that bound them to their lives of agony and suffrage. To make reparations, and to officially free these oppressed peoples from the tyranny of the Southern plantation owners, it has been agreed that compensation will be required from the master of each slave. For every two slaves previously owned, there is to be an acre of land bestowed upon them. If there is not enough land to atone the majority of the master's servants, reimbursement will be granted in the price of 200 United States dollars. Failure to make these financial amends to each and every previously-owned person will result in the former slaveholder's appearance in a Federal court.

 Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments? What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation? (Sydney)  It would be an injustice to the Northern boys who died in this Great War and to the southern Negroes if we allowed Southern politicians to immediately resume their positions in office. As the victors of the Civil War, we cannot face any chance of recapitulative aggression from our Southern brothers and must make way for a change in Southern politics. If the same men are running the Southern State governments as were before the war, there will be no resolution to the issues we lost many young men to. The Southern government, for the time being, should be run by a Northern politician of their choosing, until at least half of the southern people pledge and sign their loyalty to the United States of America. Then, the temporary leaders will leave the South, unless the terms of their agreement is violated and made void. All previous voters will be reinstated in their right to vote, but only after pledging and signing their loyalty to the Union. In addition, as the newest citizens of the United States all Negroes will be given the opportunity for suffrage. If any terms are violated the Union army will make sure that the South understands the given conditions. Also, in violation of the Negroes right to freedom, the offender will be heavily taxed. We must insure the safety of all Americans no matter geography or ethnicity, and as the United States, we will do as much as we can to insure a just reconstruction of the South.

 How should the Southern economy be restored? (Emily) Our focus is not on the Southern-Northern relations, but it is agreed that total alienation of the South will risk a divided country at war, yet again. In order to prevent this, some measure of support must be provided for the South. Both the restoration of the Southern economy and the policing of the South will share a common grounding on stationed Union troops. Union soldiers will be ordered to help rebuild the Southern cities in which they are stationed. These duties include: restoration of buildings, construction, dividing acreage (per one acre/2 slave rule), and possibly farm work. However, Union soldiers will not give aid to those who do not want it. Southern peoples reserve the right to decline or refuse help. Union soldiers reserve the right to halt aid if harassed. Land rights or other similar incentives may be awarded to Southern citizens in good standing with the law (including all civil rights laws). Otherwise, Southern economy must be left by itself to recover naturally. All navy blockages will be removed, and cotton trade is free to roam around the world.

What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South? (Emily) Because our primary goal of reconstruction is to ease the slave-to-freedman transition, Southern cities need to have a defensive force against violent racism. Union troops must be stationed in Southern cities, //but will only bear arms for defensive action in protecting themselves or freedmen.// Troops will be stationed for the main purpose of defending newly-freed slaves. A higher density of soldiers will be placed in areas with: a high concentration of black peoples, a history of anti-black violence (ex. Sites of lynching, whipping; “political gatherings”), and/or a high possibility of anti-black aggression in general (ex. Newly-appointed black politicians, recently given-up pieces of land). Union troops must not seek out conflict, however. They are prohibited from aggravating Southern citizens without reasonable cause during patrols. Over time, the United States will slowly start pulling out Union soldiers as racial violence begins to decline. If violence is still a pertinent racial problem after 10 years, a separate policing force will be sanctioned for the sole purpose of protecting freemen.

 **Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated) (Lia)** War is fought to solve a problem; but unfortunately, that is not usually the result. The American civil war was fought to solve differences between the north and the south. After the war, even though the north had won, the south was still stuck in their ways. Civil rights for freedman was a primary goal for reconstruction. Reunifying a broken and scarred nation and punishment weren't main goals of reconstruction. Ultimately, reconstruction failed.