Post 3 of 3 This is a post about what you think/ feel as a whole. NOT to each student. I have attached a copy of the responses. Professor Notes: Finally, your third post asks to review your fellow c
Student 1
Fixing Reconstruction in 1870 would indeed require a multifaceted and comprehensive approach. Here are several strategies that could be employed:
1. Education and Literacy Programs:
Establish education programs for both freed slaves and poor whites. Addressing the high illiteracy rates is crucial for empowering individuals and creating a more informed citizenry.
Partner with philanthropic organizations and religious institutions to support the establishment of schools.
2. Economic Development:
Invest in infrastructure projects that provide jobs and stimulate economic growth. This could include the construction of roads, bridges, and railways.
Encourage the growth of industry to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on agriculture.
Implement land reforms to distribute land more equitably and break the concentrated power of wealthy landowners.
3. Political Reconciliation:
Implement policies that encourage the reintegration of former Confederates into the political system without compromising the rights of freed slaves.
Promote a spirit of unity and reconciliation to mend the deep divisions caused by the Civil War.
4. Civil Rights Enforcement:
Strengthen federal enforcement of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to ensure the protection of civil rights for all citizens.
Create mechanisms to address and prosecute hate crimes and discriminatory practices.
5. Social Programs and Assistance:
Establish social programs to alleviate poverty among all races. This could include assistance with housing, healthcare, and food.
Create programs to address the specific needs of freed slaves, recognizing the historical injustices they faced.
6. Media and Public Opinion:
Use media, including newspapers and pamphlets, to disseminate information about the benefits of Reconstruction and the importance of unity.
Promote positive narratives that emphasize shared goals and a common national identity.
7. Long-term Cultural Change:
Promote cultural initiatives that challenge racial stereotypes and prejudices.
Encourage intercultural interactions to foster understanding and break down racial barriers.
8. Leadership and Role Models:
Support and elevate leaders who are committed to the principles of Reconstruction and fostering a united nation.
Use political influence to encourage positive change at the local level.
9. International Cooperation:
Seek international support and recognition for the Reconstruction efforts to boost the credibility of the federal government.
Highlight the moral imperative of addressing the legacy of slavery and promoting human rights.
10. Legal Reforms:
Advocate for legal reforms that address systemic issues and promote equal justice.
Work towards dismantling discriminatory laws and practices at both the state and federal levels.
11. Community Engagement:
Facilitate community discussions and forums to encourage dialogue and understanding among different racial and social groups.
Empower local communities to actively participate in the decision-making processes that affect them.
12. Health and Well-being:
Address public health issues, including access to healthcare and sanitation, to improve the overall well-being of communities.
13. Rebuilding Trust:
Implement policies that rebuild trust between the federal government and Southern states.
Encourage transparency and accountability in governance.
14. Crisis Management:
Establish measures to address emergencies and crises, such as natural disasters or economic downturns, to prevent them from exacerbating existing issues.
15. Measuring Progress:
Develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of Reconstruction efforts and adjust strategies accordingly.
Regularly communicate progress to the public to maintain confidence in the process.
Addressing the complex challenges of 1870 requires a sustained and collaborative effort, involving the federal government, local communities, and various stakeholders committed to creating a more just and inclusive society.
Student 2
The biggest obstacles in making sure that the whole nation obeys the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendment are one, white Americans feel that African Americans should not be on the same level as they are. This can be seen on the situation of South Carolina and Mississippi establishing their "Black Codes" which regulated African American behavior and imposed social and economic control over them. These codes granted some rights such as rights to own property, marry, and make contracts but it denied fundamental rights that are in the constitution. This includes the forbidding of African American men from seeing juries, which goes directly against the sixth amendment of the constitution granting citizens the right to a FAIR and speedy trial before a jury. Even though they may see a jury, more often than not these juries are prejudiced and don't think twice about persecuting an innocent man just because of his skin color. The belief can also be seen when Mississippi passes its Vagrant Law which requires all free men to carry papers proving they had jobs. Basically, making it illegal to be unemployed. Given the post-war economy and the newly established emancipation proclamation and thirteenth amendment, this makes African Americans easy targets.
It also doesn't help that Southern white citizens want to keep practicing slavery because it quite literally drives the economy for the Confederacy. Right now (1860s), the market for cotton is booming. The crop has long surpassed tobacco and makes up 60% of our exports. The way southern plantation owners see it, with no one to work the fields, how are they going to make their money and keep up with the economy? Many African Americans and lower-class white people are entering contracts that end up looking very similar to chattel slavery but just in a legal form. These contracts can be extremely vague and manipulated to the contract holder or writer's benefit. For example, they can exclude mentioning wage, which means they can just not pay their 'tenants' for their labor. The contract holders can also withhold wages because a laborer's service was not up to their standards, and they can even be thrown out onto the streets.
A third obstacle that prevents the nation in its entirety obey these three amendments is the amount of racial violence coming from white supremacist groups against the African American community. Examples of racial violence are riots against African American political authority, interpersonal fights, and organized vigilante groups. These vigilante groups are becoming more and more popular all across the nation, but more so in the Confederacy. Some are called the nightriders or bushwhackers. These groups are premeditated in their actions. Another large group is the Ku Klux Klan. Their beliefs have spread like wildfire all over the confederacy. Just recently, in Panola County, Mississippi twenty-four murders have occurred in the fashion that the Klan would commit them in. The increasing violence against African Americans has put an even larger divide between the two races.
Student 3
As we entered the reconstruction area, around the year 1870, we had just come out of the manifest destiny time period not too long before that. This era was about “making your fate.” However, we still had people who were previously enslaved not getting the options to even begin to start making their own fate. Our nation entered the reconstruction period right after the civil war. The country was nearly in shambles and was extremely divided among the North and South. The federal government was trying to get the confederate state governments to re-accept the constitution as the law. This was also a very sensitive time because around 650,000 had died in the war, throughout the country. This was a huge task, trying to aid in help with families having to learn to live without certain members of their family. The ones who did return from the war safely were completely different people. Divorce rates skyrocketed to 150% because spouses were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. In order to try and save our nation after the devastating time period they had just lived through, reconstruction started in 1865. During this time the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were created. The 13thamendment stated that slavery was abolished in all states. White Southerns found a loophole for this amendment and began to pass laws that stated, “it’s illegal to be African American and poor” or “to be African American and own a gun.” Local Southern areas refused in any way to try and follow this amendment. Ratified on July 9, 1868, the 14th amendment was set in place. This amendment declared that all persons “born or naturalized in the US” were granted citizenship. It also led to equality of citizens, no matter what. However, just like the previous Amendment, it was not followed. Former slaves, poor whites, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans were not treated equal in the eyes of certain states. In 1869, the 15th amendment was released. It states that the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied by the US based on race, color, or previous conditions of servitude. This in turn, gave African American male citizens the right to vote, which upset a great deal of people. When the Civil War ended in 1865, the nation thought the fighting had succeeded. However, this was not the case, there was lots of legal, political, economic, and racial fighting that accord. While this time period tried to focus on rebuilding America better than it was before the war, it was not as successful as they initially thought it would be. With the new amendments and the freedom of the slaves, our nation had advanced into a new time period. However, the many white southern who could not stand the thought of an African American being equal to them enraged many of them. They had formed many terrorists group that terrorized and even killed many former enslaved because they had blamed them for their newfound hardships. During this time, the nation was trying to advance into a better one, when they actually fell backwards because of the disobeying of the new amendments and refusing to listen to the government.
Student 4
To confront the formidable challenges in the South up to 1870, a comprehensive plan is essential, integrating political, economic, social, and educational reforms. Financial resources will be secured through federal appropriations, employing taxes on landowners and tariffs to fund initiatives crucial for infrastructure development, education, and economic recovery. The human element of this endeavor involves recruiting skilled administrators and educators committed to equality, along with collaborating with historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, who can provide invaluable insights and leadership. Thaddeus Stevens, a Radical Republican, is also enlisted for his role in shaping legislation to address wealth disparities. The operational base is strategically established in Southern cities with a history of economic and political influence. Incentives, such as economic rewards for land redistribution and infrastructure investment, will be coupled with legal consequences for discriminatory practices to ensure accountability. The plan harnesses political tools by leveraging federal authority and fostering collaboration between Northern and sympathetic Southern politicians. Economic tools include land redistribution programs and infrastructure investments, while social and educational initiatives aim to establish a comprehensive education system and foster social reconciliation. Progress will be monitored through economic indicators, educational enrollment rates, and the reduction of discriminatory practices, ensuring that the plan's effectiveness is continually assessed. The historical evidence underscores the necessity of robust civil rights enforcement, comprehensive economic reforms, and a well-structured education system, providing valuable lessons to guide this multifaceted strategy toward a more inclusive and stable Southern society.
