The+Highlighters



** __ What is the primary goal of reconstruction? __ **

Over all the primary goal of reconstruction is realigning the shattered union, though civil rights are a clear and important issue which is also adressed. What the country truly needs, however, at this time of sectionalism and hostility is common ground. Lincoln said "a house divided against itself cannot stand" and that is what the country is, a house divided. He does go on to say that "this government cannot continue half slave and half free" which is the reason civil rights also need to be addressed, they are part of what keeps the house divided and the country could not ever be reunited while slavery exists. The trick then is to end slavery without causing the bitterness that makes reunification absolutely pointless which is no easy feat. The Confederacy, though the loser meaning that they should agree submissively to the laws of the reborn nation will by no means be likely to do so. To create unification by ending slavery is to change the way life in the previously Confederate states which will doubtlessly be filled with strife. Therefore some military presence will be necessary to keep violence against the Freedmen down. The hopeful result will be a free __U__nited States.
 * Equality 100% To all Men of all races.
 * New amendment outlawing any type of law diminishing the rights of man (code, acts, laws, etc.)
 * Military Occupancy of the the succeeded states.
 * The Hierarchy of the Confederate State will not be allowed to serve public office. (Military Officers, and Public Officials)
 * Remember, the north won the war and the states are coming back to the U.S. They must accept the new laws of our great nation

** __ What should be done to the ex-Confederates? __ ** The ex-Confederate soldiers who served there time in the rebel army, which numbers to more than one million men, shall not be held accountable for their actions partaken in the duration of wartime with the North. However, generals, and officials in the rebel army shall not and cannot run to be elected in the Southern states as any government official. Instead of letting the same men who subsidized and supported ideas of slavery and rebelling against the United States of America, only men who can provide evidence that they were not an official to the Confederate army may run for office. This does pertain to blacks as well. The United States of America did not fight a war with the South only to lose in post-war politics. **__ What should be done for the freedmen? __** The freedmen in the South shall be protected and given civil rights. This means they are allowed the same pay and must obey the same rights as white men. There will be no discrimination tolerated, including separate facilities and schools. To enforce these laws, heavy suppression of military forces will be applied to each and every state. Any resentment or offenses against these laws will result in imprisonment. The freedmen shall be able to still work for their previous owner, if both parties consent, however they must receive minimum wage at least and receive no harsh treatment. The military occupying shall act as a police force of the United States of America and enforce these newly placed laws to help create a more equal society, whereas previously it was a backwards, feudalistic one.

**__ Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments? __** As established in the 14th and 15th amendments, the right of suffrage is a right held my all men, regardless of ethnicity or background. All men, black or white, rich or poor, can vote. The ability to cast a ballot shall not be taken away under any circumstances. No law or set of laws can directly or indirectly withhold one’s eligibility to vote in an election. Any form of devious political finessing to prohibit a man’s voting rights is grounds for immediate revocation and removal from office. Any form of intimidation is punishable to the full extent of the law, which while under military occupation can range from imprisonment to execution. As for the eligibility to run for and hold an office, any man can do so as well, so long as he was not a member of the Confederate hierarchy. Any man serving in the Confederate military in the rank of Lieutenant or above, or any man previously holding political office in the Confederate government cannot run in an election, capture a position in office or be appointed a position in office. Any other man, again regardless of ethnicity or background, can run and hold office. Southern leaders are the ones who enticed their fellow countrymen to commit the greatest act of treason in the history of the United States. It would be absolutely ridiculous if they were re-instated as their states representatives and legislators. They are lucky they come out of this with their lives. All of the Pardons granted by Andrew Johnson are revoked. No amount of reparations or penitence can give them the power of office back. **__ What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation? __** In order to the Confederate states to be re-admitted into the union, they must ratify the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments and any other constitutional amendment passed by congress during their absence. They must re-design their state constitutions and give an oath of permanent allegiance to the United States of America. Failure to abide by any of the amendments, federal laws or pledge of allegiance warrants harsh and decisive military intervention. Seceded states must abide by their military over watch without question until the people of those states are seen fit for normal everyday political and social operation. This means until they can peacefully accept the election of an African-American into office, they are to be under the “care” of the union Army and abide by their enforcement of federal law. Once the states have accepted the immediate terms of re-admittance (ratification of the 13th, 14th, 15th and any other wartime amendment and complete subjugation to Northern military policing) those states shall enjoy the full benefits of a state: full representation in congress, open trade with northern and western states and aid for the damages inflicted during the war.

**__ How should the Southern economy be restored? __** The economy of the Confederacy was absolutely annihilated by the end of the war. If the battles themselves had not taken enough toll Sherman's march to the sea was absolutely devastating. This horrendous fact can be used in bringing the nation back together, the Union will take that as a way to regain positive relations with their confederate cousins. Teams will be sent to the former Confederate states for the sole purpose of helping to rebuild the fractured infrastructure and economy in the places worst hit (i.e. Atlanta, Savannah and everywhere in between). Once those places have been rebuilt the teams can then move on until all of the states have been able to rebuild and adjusted to the new slave-less system. Though this would initially seem to be showing excessive mercy to the rebellious Confederates it is actually an excellent chance to improve sectional relations. By sending the teams to help with rebuilding the Union shows the fact that it will be with the Confederacy in cleaning up and that the states are indeed an united front in mopping up the destruction caused by the war.

**__ What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South? __**

Former Union troops, now taking the role of the U.S. Army, will act as the law enforcement in the ex Confederate States. With the 100% equality of all races in the nation granted by the new amendment to the Constitution, the armed forces will protect the rights of man, as well as enforce the new acquired laws to the United State of America. The army will protect and defend the Constitution as well as help with the reconstruction of the nation. In the beginning, elections will be run the by the Army, to insure a far elections, and to insure the law state no persons of the Hierarchy of the Confederate States will hold position in office. Perhaps the biggest responsibility of the Military Occupancy will be to hold order in the returning states. Do to the drastic change in law, the military will stop any resistance to the new founded laws from civilian uprisings and political groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The United States Armed Forces will stay in occupancy of the Ex-Confederate States, until civil rights are recognized and enforced by every state.

//__ **Our Commitment to you.** __// The goal of reconstruction is most importantly to bring the country back together and there is absolutely no way of accomplishing that without abolishing slavery. It was what drove the nation apart and to war and it is only in its absence that the nation will be able to once again be able to function as one complete country. It is clearly a difficult task rebuilding a destroyed society without the main pillar of its original foundation but it is the only feasible way to keep the country from falling into disunion once again.


 * Equality 100% To all Men of all races.
 * New amendment outlawing any type of law diminishing the rights of man (code, acts, laws, etc.)
 * Military Occupancy of the the succeeded states.
 * The Hierarchy of the Confederate State will not be allowed to serve public office. (Military Officers, and Public Officials)
 * Remember, the north won the war and the states are coming back to the U.S. They must accept the new laws of our great nation