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**What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis)** Punishing leads to hate; hate leads to grudge; grudge leads to nowhere. Losing the war may have been enough punishment for the south, and now it is time to move our nation forward into a hopeful future. Our mission is to reunify the country once again while enforcing civil rights for freedmen.

What should be done to the ex-Confederates? ( The ex-Confederate soldiers shall not endure any punishment for the Northern fears of their Southern neighbors will only lead to discontent. It may be true that one of the causes for their secession had been over their state right to keep slavery, not all civilians were called to arms for this factor. Many people, including Robert E. Lee, joined the Confederate cause because they felt it was their duty to protect their hometown. The Northern fear that all ex-Confederate soldiers are angry slave masters would be no more than a stereotype. "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." For the North to accept the South with open arms would have the once-dissenters not to feel as indifferent or alienated as they would if they were all simply shunned. Nothing shall done for punishment; however, the Ex-confederates can only hold political office within their town. Lastly, they will be allowed to work on the railroad system provided later in this document.

What should be done for the freedmen?

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All freedmen should be allowed to hold all the same rights as white men. This includes the right to have a free education because education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom. A good and basic education will ensure that freedmen would not be cheated or misleaded by any southerners. Freed men should also be able to work paid labor and eventually own their own property, just as any man. They should also be allowed to vote and hold office at any position (if they have been properly educated). Lastly, freedmen should have equal representation under the law. They should be allowed a fair trial with a fair jury as anyone else; so unjust cases, such as Ewell vs. Robinson, will not occur again.======

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

Instead of just who should vote in the new Southern state governments, I will propose a plan for the structure of voting as a whole. First and foremost, all people black and white shall hold the power to vote. However there will be minute limitations at the polls. First of all, one must sign a document to ensure their allegiance to the United States of America and that they will abide by emancipation. This will ensure that anyone who wants to count by voting will be loyal to America. Secondly, the poll operators, upon request or need, will read or give any instructions verbally; this will ensure that even illiterate blacks will have their voices heard and votes counted. Third, every six months the Southern polling institution as a whole will be thoroughly inspected to ensure that a fair and just system is remaining in place. To the issue of who should be able to hold office in the new Southern state governments. Anyone can hold office to a certain extent. Any man, black or white, confederate or otherwise, can hold office up to the city positions. Any person, excluding ex-confederates, will be allowed to hold office with more power than city positions. Permitting ex-confederates to hold office with more power than city positions could prove dangerous, as ex-confederates are still liabilities for uprisings against the U.S. government. Too hold office two requirements must be met. Allegiance to the United States and a pledge to uphold emancipation must be sworn. Lastly, a basic education, at least 6 years, must be obtained before running for any political office.

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

To make this reconstruction a success it must be quick on some parts, and must be slow enough to ease people into unfamiliar ways of life. The first and quickest thing that must be taken care of is getting the vote of the people from each state to pledge their allegiance to the United States of America. 25% of a voter population, in any state, must swear allegiance to the United States and swear to abide by emancipation. The next requirement that should be met is for all states to ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. A state must formally elect their own form of democracy. Lastly, a state may rewrite their constitution but it must include abolition of slavery forever, in accordance with the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment. To help these amendments become more reasonable public schools must be built in all states for freedmen and whites. As terrible as segregation, the schools will have to be segregated at first because it is simply just too much change and must be nurtured carefully. With enough time segregation will be rid of, but for the moment a definite requirement of the southern states is to educate the freedmen so their votes will have meaning and reason behind them. After 10 years of peaceful coexistence between the freedmen and southerners, segregation will be abolished. The freedmen’s rights need to be respected and known in order to progress as a country.

How should the Southern economy be restored?

In order for the South to become economically sound, ex-Confederate soldiers and Southerners alike should be put to forced, but paid, labor in order to build railroads across the South. The reason for no Northerners working on the project is because the South would have their pride threatened if their enemies tried to help them rebuild their economy (not to mention fears of a Northerner crippling their efforts by compromising their railway system). Accordingly, the railroads would allow more money flowing into Southern cities akin to their Northern neighbors. Their labor will repair the railroads that the North destroyed during the war in addition to being paid. Also, the North will no longer have the upper hand by being the only part of the country that has money flowing in from having a railroad system and the South now has a chance to catch up with them technologically and economically. If Southerners decline or veteran soldiers abandon the project, the reason that their economy wouldn't be on par with the North would be because they refused to put in the effort to put themselves back on their feet. "How will the country pay for this" you may ask? True, the North wouldn't be so ecstatic to pay welfare for their enemies during the war. Although the South may be economically poor, they still can provide agriculture. Instead of paying in currency, the South will pay the North in cotton and supplies. For these supplies, the North can now use or redistribute them in trade overseas. A percentage of the profits made from this trade will be put to fund the railroad system and payment for the laborers. Also, taxes from the South will provide partial funding for this project. Hopefully, the North would realize by supplying the Southerners with the cheapest materials they can find, in favor that they can save a couple bucks, will only lead to increased hostility in the recovering nation. What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?

The main role of Union troops is to ensure the civil rights of freemen without instilling a vibe of oppression towards southerners. Not only will they serve to protect freemen rights but they will also serve as southern patrol, an officer positioned to protect all. The southerner men seem to misinterpret Union troop enforcement so we have to make sure we **maintain** BUT progressively minimize "supremacy" and "pride" esteem of the white in order to maintain unification. Based on the time era, making any drastic moves would lead to southern revolt (which is pretty much already happening). So yes, we are trying to ensure the civil rights without pushing southern buttons too hard. Throughout the 10 years of coexistence, the ideal thing is that Union troops slowly but surely increase freemen rights so that at the end of 10 years, segregation will be completely abolished and freemen be at least equally accepted and the Unification of the country preserved.

**Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)** MARY PRICE CHESNUTT: I agree with everything you have stated in your proposal for an effective and efficient reconstruction of our nation.

Your point on “fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering” is an area in which I feel very similarly. It has been proven in society that when a person is angry they act irrationally and can not think clearly. In order to avoid this irrational thinking in the South the North does need to have “open arms” and be accepting to the South.

As stated in the constitution ALL men are equal. The north and south both need to adhere to this statement and present the freedmen with their natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I again agree with the fact that all men should have the right to vote but I am confused about the 6 month plan in which the southern polls will be inspected. I believe that this plan could possibly anger the South and instead of taking steps towards a new united nation it could just widen the rift between the sides. Also the 6 years of education I am wondering how extensive that education might be. In our life we will have had a total of 20 some years of education so in comparison is 6 years of schooling enough for a leader in our nation?

The inclusion of the amendments into the newly written constitution will be very effective in my opinion.

Over all I approve of the plan that you all have formed and agree with points you have made in more ways than one. I would only question the points of southern government.