3rd+Degree

__** What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis) **__ To successfully reintegrate two divisions of America together will be a daunting task-one that requires patience, time, and understanding as the fragile situation is handled in a way that will ensure the undeniable unification and patriotism of both the North and the South together. To regain the status, rights, and representation as a state of the United States of America, the South must recognize, acknowledge, and enforce the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments in addition to creating schools and providing education no matter the race of the children. The ex-Confederates will certainly be held responsible for their actions and quietly receive minor punishment as not to cause disrupt and outcry. Due to the horrible injustice black slaves have endured for the past 100 years, blacks will not only be emancipated, but they will also be educated, given land, and will be able to vote after seven years of education (however, they must pay for the last two years). The economy is and will stay shattered if the North doesn't take some actions to aid the South. A tax will be charged to "rebuild to the economy" and go towards reconstructing the South and also providing freedmen with education and land. To ensure that the new amendments are implemented, the U.S. Army (not specifically the Union troops) will be stationed in the areas with the most crime and intolerance towards freedmen. By taking action with grace, dignity, and tolerance, the North and the South will come together as one again and bring the United States of America back to its former prestige and world power and status.

__ What should be done to the ex-Confederates? __

In order not to impose the heavy hand of punishment onto the ex-Confederates whilst keeping our general Reconstruction plan from being thrown off it’s intended course, we have decided to implement the plan of keeping the ex-Confederates from holding office for the next 5 years. During this period of transition, we would hold mandatory re-education programs for the ex-Confederates. In this program, we would educate the Southerners about the new taxation policies, how we would incorporate them into the new economic system, just how much the Northerners are contributing, how they are to contribute to the reconstruction process of the South, and what the policies are for resisting the Reconstruction plan. We would educate them on the motives of the Northerners in making the decision to go to war with the Southerners and the core ideal that we are one “United States”, also teaching them the Northern stand point of what it meant when they tried to secede and what the effects of secession would affect the North and South economically and socially. In addition, we would include a basic equality class. This would involve them to at least understand the consequences of their treatment of the African Americans from eliminating their “personhood”; as well as the equality course we would include what steps we are taking in our Reconstruction policy in reference to the African Americans, namely what laws we are creating having to do with civil right of African Americans and what the punishment is for not following these laws. During the education course we would be closely monitoring the progress of Southerners especially on how well they respond to questions concerning equality of African Americans. We understand that it takes time for change, especially as radical as the change that we are trying to implement; so, we only ask that the ex-Confederates ascertain a policy of //tolerance// towards African Americans.

In addition, we would aid in the construction of public schools for general education, as well as hiring teachers that we find to be non-discriminatory, so as not to teach racist propaganda to students that would only further the social gap between “blacks and whites”.

__ What should be done for the freedmen? __

In order to give African Americans their chance at living in an equal opportunity state with the whites, we have given them emancipation, and will receive a designated piece of land to carry out their lives without the cruelty of white dominion. We also wish to educate African Americans by providing them an education equal to that of a white child. They will not be able to hold a government job until they have had 7 years of schooling. The last two years of their education they will have to pay for their schooling but will only be charged a reasonable amount of money, based on the job that they have at that particular period of time. During the next 7 years laws would be enacted to maintain the civil rights of African Americans that would surpass the 13th, 14, and 15th, amendments. In court, African Americans would not only have the right to be represented but would be judged by the general population, not just the Southerner. This will help to ensure no racial prejudice or injustice against the blacks in court cases. With full representation, they would have the ability to choose who they want to represent them, not have someone forcibly assigned to their case and risk losing on the basis of prejudice. As well as receiving an education, they would be denied voting privileges until they received the mandatory 7 years of education. We wish to take this course of action only to ensure that the blacks have ability to make fully informed decisions on controversial topics and not be swayed one way or the other.

__ Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments? __

In the newly unified United States of America, all male citizens, over the age of eighteen, will be able to vote. Ex-Confederates have the right to vote. African American’s have the right to vote, once they have acquired a firm educational foundation, (the ability to read, write, and make an informed decision when voting), from at least a seven years of schooling.

In the new Southern government Ex-President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, and Ex-Vice President of the Confederacy, Alexander Stephens cannot hold office for thirty years, 1865-1895, on the charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. The secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and all members of the cabinet cannot hold office for 20 year, 1865-1885, on the basis of treason. Ex-confederates who fought in the war and ranked as Generals, Colonels, and Captains, cannot hold office for the next twenty years, 1865-1885, also on the basis of high crimes and misdemeanors. All other low ranking soldiers will not be able to able to hold office for a sentence of five years, 1865-1870. These low ranking soldiers, once permitted to hold a place in office, are only allowed to serve for a maximum of six years. Ex-President of the Confederacy, Ex-Vice President of the Confederacy, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and all members of the cabinet will all be held to a six-year maximum term in office. These measures are being taken as to prevent a second succession. These measures ensure the unity of the United States. In addition, all African Americans, just like every other American, have full right to hold a position in office.

__ What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation? __

The North will not permit the South to return to the union with out first ensuring that the South understands the changes that have taken place and that the South is ready to cooperate in a professional matter in the United States. To be readmitted into the United States of America with full rights and representation, the Southern states must ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. They must pledge, as a government, before the Supreme Court to uphold the rights ensured to freedmen in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. Any state failing to uphold the amendments will be temporarily suspended from full representation. If the Federal Government deems it fit, Southern states not abiding by the 13th-15th amendments may be held as a temporary territory until further assessment. Before the Southern states can be readmitted they must devise a plan to institute a public education system. The public school system must be present in all states and caters to the needs of all school-aged children, including African Americans. If a state fails to provide schooling for African Americans, the state will be warned and given a twelve-month period of time to fix the issue. If the dilemma is not solved by the twelve-month period representational privileges may be revoked.

__ How should the Southern economy be restored? __

An important part of integrating two divisions of America back into one is by restoring the economy. The economy in the South has a vital role to make sure that the transition from Confederate to American in not an impossible feat.

In order to accomplish this there are a few necessary steps that the North need to take to help the South back into an American way of life. The most important action in rebuilding an economy in the south would be to institute an education system. An education system is dire to the success of reconstruction because if workers aren’t educated then they will be cheated on their earning and with such an advantage, the head worker will treat the employees like slaves, returning the south back to a slave society. To educate the south all of the inhabitants will go to school for seven years. After the first five years, they should know how to complete the basics in order to succeed, but will need to complete the last two years by paying a small sum. This will allow for materials and higher-level teachers to help bring a society back together.

Another method to restore the economy is to have a small tax on household items. The value would only be at 2.5% to the dollar. The profits will benefit the economy by providing an education and land for the freedmen. This tax will be collected when purchasing the item, so that there is no way to weave around this necessity. A tax collector will come by once a month to collect from each store, and the store will have to prove what was sold for that month, so that the store does not cheat on the economy either. The money will then be placed in schools where supplies will be bought and salaries for teachers will be paid. It will in all return back to the economy when the people in school are able to finish with high comprehension levels to hold a job.

Although the North will have some duties to reconstruct the South, it will also be the job of the South to provide actions to restore their own economy. The South will need to provide construction workers to build buildings and houses in towns where Sherman was able to destroy. This will benefit the country tremendously by creating work for whoever needs it. The South will receive a discount on wood from the North if it complies with the other rules, so that houses will be created quicker. Every male that does not hold a current job will be required to help unless there are medical conditions that permit this type of work. It is very important to build back a framework for a town, so that the economy can get up and running as soon as possible. The economy needs to be restored quickly, so that the transition back into American life is smooth.

__ What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South? __ The USarmy should occupy the south to be an unbiased police force. They will enforce the new amendments and ensure the local police enforce them as well until such time that the local forces can adjust and adhere to the new laws. The soldiers must stay a minimum of three years in the south to assure an adequate transition process. After the three year the local police force must be approved of appropriately abiding by and enforcing the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. Once the troops have been lifted an evaluation of each town will be made annually to make certain the proper laws are being maintained for ten years.

The soldiers will also aid the southerners in reconstruction of areas damaged by the war such as the pathway left bySherman. Reconstruction needs to be organized and run by the government in order to happen efficiently. The soldiers can help in the supervision and transportation of materials. They will also be there to make sure that the South does not revert back to slave labor.

__ **Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)** __

For the North and the South to become a unified country again, the United States must go through drastic transformations that will reshape its societal values and structure by extensive steps that will gradually be introduced. It is essential that the United States identifies as one, grows as one, expands as one, and lives as one. Although lifestyles range from either extremes of the spectrum-some in the big cities and other on the rural pastures-we must stay bonded together, bound by out strong patriotic ties.

My biggest issue with your plan is your plan for who should be able to hold office in the Southern States. Any and all who have renewed their pledge to Uphold the Union in my opinion should be allowed to hold office, regardless of their position in the Confederacy. The basis of a republic is the opinion of the people, and the people may elect whoever they see fit to represent their opinions. Therefore I find the restrictions on who may be elected to be illegal and against the principles of a Government for the people, by the people, and of the people. Also, when it comes to your opinion on the Military occupations, I find that there should be a standing police force in all parts of the south, but it should be completely separate and should not answer to the union army, but rather to the governments of its county and state. Finally, in regards to punishment, punishment for treason should be withheld should they pledge loyalty to the union, but no other crimes that occurred during the war should be pardoned.