Hope

//~ Alea, Devyn, Hannah, Jocelyn, and Lauren ~// __**What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis)**__ In order to reconstruct our broken nation we have set forth a plocy to reunify our Southern and Northern neighbors. We believe that reunification can be accomplished through education. Examples in reunification through education include: teaching children the new principles of our nation, that African-Americans are equal, and that we are a united nation. In addition, we intend on punishing top members of the confederacy such as generals and political leaders by putting them through fair trial.

__**What should be done to the ex-Confederates?** __ Due to our main goal being “Reunification through education”, the Ex-Confederate soldiers would be absolute top priority in our re-educating system. We are aware, however, that just telling them that “slavery is wrong” and that “African Americans are people, too” will not be enough. Because of this, after a few lessons and workshops, we believe that it would be best for the Ex-Confederate soldiers take part in rebuilding their newly “Sherman-ized” city (along with other people –including African Americans). This process would count as a type of community service. The soldiers would go through their re-education and integration cycle numerous times before being put on trial. This jury would be made up of 18 people –six completely random and independent northerners, six random and white southern women, and six African American people from both North and South. The trial’s purpose will be to test how much the Ex-Soldier has truly improved in his course, and to see if he is on the right road to “ditching” his old thoughts and ways to make room for new views on how to reunify the burnt-out America. The soldier will be more closely tried depending on the rank of the soldier. If this process fails, then the Ex-Confederate soldier will be put in a military jail on accounts of Treason until something has changed inside of him. __**What should be done for the freedmen?**__ Our reunification through education process is not solely for the whites of the South, because it applies to the former slaves as well. We are sure that the freedmen are not too happy with the centuries of slavery under the white race, and because of this we are putting them into their own form of re-education about whites. We want to make it as crystal clear as possible that the America for the future generations will not be as it was in the past, and this includes the way that African Americans view Whites, and vice versa. Once these freedmen have gone through enough lessons and workshops to fully understand the situation, we will ask them to come to the community service portion of the re-education process. In this portion, they will work with white people from both sides of the country, building up a new city with new tolerance levels and new ways of life. By doing this, we are integrating both races to work for a common goal. We will also set up a system where these newly freedmen can reunite with their families who have most likely been sold off. Under this system, the free slaves can reunite the country as well as their own families. __**Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?**__ In our reconstruction plan, our main goal is to achieve an equal and unified nation. As part of this goal, new members of government must be chosen, and new laws reguarding who can be in office and who can now vote. To say that Southerners, or African-Americans are not allowed in office, or not allowed to be involved in the political aspect of it all would be continuing unjust treatment of a certain peoples, and would continue to set back the reconstruction effort. Instead, we have chosen to make it an even playing field for all. Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate, with certain guidelines that pertain in no way to race, or beliefs, etc.. Requirements for office.. -Only native-born U.S. citizens (or those born abroad, but only to parents who were both citizens of the U.S.) -One must also be at least 35 years of age to be president -One must live in the United States for at least 14 years to be president, in addition to being a natural-born citizen  -Finally, one must have completed all re-education classes Requirements for voting priviledges.. -United States citizen <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-A resident of the state  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-18 years of age or older on Election Day  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-Not in prison or in county jail (serving a state prison sentence or serving a term of more than one year in jail for a defined "low-level" felony), or on parole, post release community supervision, or post-sentencing probation for a felony conviction  <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-Not found by a court to be mentally incompetent  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-Have completed all re-education classes <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">These requirements will give everyone an equal opportunity to be involved without any unjust treatment to the people, establishing a base for our new united nation. __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation? **__  <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The requirements that must be met before states regain full rights and representation are not too difficult to attain. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">-Full participation in re-education acts <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">-Additional taxes created for re-education, trials for ex confederates, and for reconstruction of society  <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">-Obeying of all new laws __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How should the Southern economy be restored? **__   __**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South? **__  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">__**Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)**__ Education: it is our future, our only hope, our main source that will help us reunify the country through this time of reconstruction. We believe that educating children that African Americans are equal, will give them better morals and help keep our nation united. The children are our future so if we teach them what is right, what can go wrong. We want to start change for the next generation so nothing this horrible will ever happen again. Also, educating the ex-confederates that slavery really is wrong will create peace throughout the nation. We will have re-education institutions set up in the south and some in the north so everyone will get the privilege of being taught how things should be. Integration is also our goal, we want to make everything integrated, everything equal. That’s why in the re-education classes there will be African Americans and whites present to learn about and understand each other. Education + Integration = Equality and Unification, we believe this is the formula it takes to keep the United States united forever.

Hope Reconstruction Blog Critique: •Plocy should be policy

Although, the process of reunification through education is a good idea, the way in which your plan executes it has some flaws. Making Ex-confederate soldiers a top priority is smart; however, holding a trial for every Ex-confederate soldier seems a bit unreasonable and too time consuming. Additionally, your reeducation of freedmen and women is a little optimistic. By teaching freedmen that whites are not to be feared, you are setting them up for failure. Considering the prevalence of racism and hate crimes, during this time, one should know the futility of these actions and should take a more defensive than offensive approach in combating the racism in the South. After living their entire life with the notion that slavery is good and Biblically justified, the majority of Southerners would have most likely not changed their ways. Therefore, it is best to set things in place to protect the freedmen from the Southerners, rather than changing an entire society’s views.