Stephanie's+Minions

** What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis) ** Our ideal is to preserve the union while assuring civil rights for all people - as the losing side of the war, the South must realize that while they are truly a part of the United States, they must make concessions on certain issues in order to create a sound foundation for the reconstructed United States. Civil rights take precedent over all else - the South's economy has been based on a morally unsound institution, and for them to recognize this is the first step in building a better, healthier United States.

** What should be done to the ex-Confederates? ** While ex-Confederates may have once been proud members of the United States, they assisted in what was, in essence, a violent revolt against the government. They are traitors to the country, and as such, high ranking officers or members of the brief government of the Confederate States will not be allowed to run for office in the re-United States. Exiling, banishing, or executing these people would merely aggravate the South further, possibly sparking another dangerous movement - something that we trust both sides are hoping to avoid, and which could spell devastation for the South's already-broken economy. Ex-Confederates who proved to be particularly fervent in their crusades may be subject to trial by jury, and jail time if they are found guilty.

** What should be done for the freedmen? ** The freedmen are an important part of the new South and must be treated as such. Volunteers from the North, previously the abolitionists, will help to educate African-Americans. We shall not allow the Black Codes to come into effect, as they are detrimental to the rights of those they govern. Freedmen will enjoy the same employment and voting rights as whites, enforced by measures addressed in answer 7. The freedmen will be have the same wage as white men, have equal land opportunities, and will not be forced to live a life of near-slavery as a result of continued Southern oppression. The local sheriffs and army will be on constant alert for reports of Ku Klux Klan activity (as we cannot prevent dissenters who aim to work outside of the law) and with some effort, we will quash their threat to civil rights. This is an issue that we stand firm on - civil rights must to be enforced by any means possible. Segregation, too, shall be outlawed in all places - African-Americans are no different than anyone else, and as such we must strive to usher them into society after years of oppression.

**Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments? ** All men who are of or over the age of eighteen years old shall hold the right to vote. Former slaves will be considered to have been citizens for the amount of years that they have been living in the country in order to comply with the requirements for length of citizenship that may be part of the requirements set by individual states for a person to run for and hold office. Men of any race/ethnicity may be elected to hold office in a state government as long as they meet the age requirements set by the state. However, high ranking ex-confederates will not be allowed to run for any office in any state or territory of the United States due to the treasonous acts that they committed.

** What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation? ** Although it would be ideal for the Confederate States to be readmitted quickly into the United States there must be a a solid foundation of equality set before this can happen. Because of this states will be required to ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, and 50 percent of the citizens in a state must vote for re-admittance. They will also be required to accept all Reconstruction policies. Taxes will be raised to 75% of what those in the North are in order to assist in rebuilding the South. States must pass a law that states that there will be no laws passed that prevent any citizens from voting or any laws that allow for any amount of segregation. Public schools for children of all races must be established. Local police and army must cooperate in keeping the peace and disallowing discriminatory acts. Five years after all of these requirements are met, a state can be readmitted into the United States.

** How should the Southern economy be restored? ** The southern economy should be rebuilt on the basis of agriculture as was their previous economy was due to the fact that southerner's have experience in this area and the climate is ideal for growing crops. However, the main crops should be split between cash and food crops instead of mainly cash crops. In order for these crops to be transported throughout the South and the North the damaged railroads need to be repaired as well as new railroads installed. Eventually a transcontinental railroad will be installed connecting the South and the West. The taxes should gradually (in a ten year period) be raised to those of the North. All confiscated land should be given to freedmen with the understanding that they will grow cash/food crops. There will also be incentives to build factories and hire freedmen to work them, one of which will be reduced taxes on land with in-use factories on it. There will also be a national minimum wage law created in order to disallow exploitation of workers.

** What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South? ** Union troops will be stationed in the South for a limited amount of time as the people of the South adjust to the effects of the new amendments and Reconstruction policies. They will work especially in preserving peace, thwarting any acts of violence, and helping to administer all of the new policies being put into place and followed. They will also help with the reconstruction of railroads and other infrastructure. The troops will not be all pulled out of the Southern states in one large mass. Gradually, over a span of fifteen years beginning when a state has begun the process of being readmitted into the United States, the troops will be withdrawn from the individual state. This time period is flexible. Should problems arise, more members of the US army may be sent into a state to handle the issue as is custom for all states, North or South.

Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated) The primary goal for reconstruction following the events of the Civil War is to bring the nation together to become once again whole and to instate the new laws which will move us forward as a country offering the true democratic ideals of equality for all men. We wish not to subjugate the southern states, however, in these changing times, we can no longer ignore unethical behaviours.


 * Critiques:**

The thesis or primary goal of your plan sounds well thought out. It overall has many great ideas infused within it. If this plan went into affect during the time after the Civil War, our country could have changed and become united.

Your thoughts about what to do with the ex-confederates seem like a valid way to prevent further influence of the South. The high-ranking officials definitely should not have the ability to hold power in the post war United States, but I don’t think the policy should be extended to everyone who held a government position in the Confederacy. Many low level people in the Confederacy should have the right to run for office and become involved.

The plan for the Freedmen sounds good, but you can’t rely on local sheriffs to prevent racism and the klu klux klan. Many people in the South were completely racist and would welcome the KKK into their towns. In order to put a stop to the KKK, an organization should set up that would defend these towns from the KKK. All men should have the right to vote regardless of their ethnicity. Should suffrage be spread to women?

The Civil War angered people in the South so I don’t you could count on a full fifty percent of people to vote for re-admittance. The idea for readmission does sound like a quality plan, but the percentage of people who have to vote for re-admission should be reduced to ensure states would rejoin the Union.

Without the modern technology we have the luxury of using today, the South can’t be rebuilt solely on agriculture. For any sort of meaningful profit to surface, the farmers need cheap exploited workers just like the factories up North. They have to be paid for their work of course, but if you’re looking for an unexploited route to rebuilding the South you have to look elsewhere.

The stationing of Union Troops to rebuild and govern the South seems like the only logical conclusion for preventing violence and rebuilding the South. My only suggestion would be to start recruiting Southern men into the Union Army early. By doing this, people in the South could find jobs, make money, and rebuild old ties with the North.

- Will Broms