Sherman's+Advocates

This country of ours was once great and can be once again. The unfortunate civil war is finally over and we can now start to rebuild our country, we are all citizens of these United States of America and we all need to work together to completely reunify this split nation of ours. We need to seal and cauterize the wound that has been left by this war. We will continue to rebuild the south and fight for the equality of all men, but we must first focus on the reunification of our shattered nation. We will not how ever tolerate the south pretending as if the war never happened, black people are now free and you may not oppress their rights. We will leave the armies in the south to keep control until the reconstruction is complete.
 * What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis)**

The rebels have committed high treason and have openly attacked the United States. As of now, we in Congress propose that Supreme General Robert E. Lee of the now-defunct Confederate forces be either banished from all United States and territories, or jailed for 50 years or more. We will not tolerate any more secession or rebellion. All former Confederate officers above the rank of Captain will not be permitted to hold any office in the South. Any confederate officer currently holding a position will have the permission to fulfill their term, and then relinquish their seat in the Senate to a Union politician. As for the minor generals under Lee, they will be tried and if convicted of serving in the Confederate army, they will be sentenced to 20 years or more in prison on terms of treason.
 * What should be done to the ex-Confederates?**

The freedmen are…well…free to stay in the South as they please. We in Congress highly recommend them to move west. As the days move on, we are seeing increasing resistance to the fact that all slaves are now emancipated. Even with the Force Act as well as the Ku Klux Klan Act, we would highly recommend all free blacks to move west where we have plenty of land for them to start entire towns in. As a bonus for moving west, we have reduced taxes and property rates for any freedmen moving anywhere west of Kansas. We have guaranteed that any free black will be granted a generous loan to buy land in the west. We in Congress have created hundreds of benefits and conveniences for blacks alike. The Freedmen’s Bureau is now sending most of their teachers west to educate blacks for free. We also have already set up churches and towns for blacks to come and settle. Overall, moving west will be the most profitable move that any freedmen will take. If they choose to stay in the South however, they will have the benefits of staying where their ancestors passed, and possibly getting a job at the industrial factories that we will set up there. This will be at the cost, however, of being abused and possibly killed by the violent terror groups like the White Liners and the Ku Klux Klan.
 * What should be done for the freedmen?**

Amongst many of the more radical Republican politicians, a complete reform of Southern government seats is seen as the most reasonable choice. However, within that resolution lies a deep contempt for the South in general, one that pushes for immediate punishment towards a weak and tattered region. Therefore, a safer and more based approach to this problem would be to keep most of the Southern senators in their own respective governments. This decision is based upon the inherent fact that the South knows what's best for their own people, as their lifestyle is completely different from those who live in the North. No matter how much the slavery issue takes up in the controversy, it is no matter that a proud, militant region such as the South must have its way of life retained somewhat in order for it to even consider coming back to the Union. On the other hand, if only the Southern senators are elected back into office, then there is no net benefit that comes back to the North: the Civil War would have been for naught if this were to happen. Therefore, a mandatory 2/5 reservation of Republican candidates in all houses, chosen by the North, shall also be implemented to balance the decisions of a still-wounded South. These Republican senators will act as the check against any Southern action that becomes too radical for the North's interests. However, that number must stay at least 2/5 of the whole Government seats and, if disregarded, the United States Army will be used accordingly until such requirement is met and can be assured that nothing of the sort will happen again. Now, regarding exactly who is going to be in office, high military officers who led the Confederate army will be barred and discouraged from election. Anyone else of suitable credentials, however, is allowed to run for office. Those of black heritage are restricted from holding office but are allowed to give their support through the vote. Of course, as black people are already discouraged from living in their current state, this will serve to appease those in the South, who will be pleased to know that their vote will not be "tainted" by the black vote as much as it could have been.
 * Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?**

Alongside the issue of government office, a state's eligibility to reunion with the United States is a simple, three-step method. First: the state must ratify the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the Constitution, all of them concerning the rights of blacks and their freedom over slavery. In order for the South to assimilate back into American society, a uniform policy must be met in concern of the issues of slavery and the rights of blacks. If this were to fail to be observed, then the Civil War will have been for naught, as slavery was a pivotal and polemical drive of the war. To have this opportunity for reform wasted would be suicide for this nation. Two: The Southern legislature will have the 2/5 reservation for an opposing party, such as the Republican party, to better balance the decision making process that will become of grave importance in the future. The utmost priority of the future of this nation is for the governments to come back as peacefully as possible. However, too much leniency will lead to nothing changing. If, however, extraneous circumstances make it momentarily impossible for a 2/5 reservation of Republican candidates in office, a state is still eligible for reentry into the Union. However, in order to make up for this lack of opposition, such a state will only have 3/5 of its vote to be valid in comparison to the other states. This is to ensure to those in office that without proper opposition a state will not have the required voice to bring the change they want. Three: Accept a paced transformation from an agricultural empire to that of industry. Of course, different means are needed for different states, but one thing is clear: cotton is no longer king. Britain has already found its alternative source and the soil of the South has been deprived of its nutrients beyond recognition. By taking this opportunity to rebuild and make new railroads, establish factories, and understand the world of business, a tattered South will rise due to the availability of jobs, more money for everyone, and a newfound quality of life that outdoes the past ways of the South.
 * What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?**

In order for the Southern economy to be restored, an Industrial System must first be established with help from the North -which already has a firm grasp on industry and manufacturing. The Deep South, such as Georgia and South Carolina, and especially the city’s General Sherman trekked through during the Civil War, was ravished, looted, burned, and became that of ruin; innumerable were left homeless and possession-less. No one was sparred: Confederate Veterans returned home, bloody and exhausted -both physically and mentally- to find their priceless plantations decimated and their slaves deserted. These plantations, thousands of them, by the hands of millions of slaves, had come to produce the staple crop of the South, cotton, and dub the southern states the land of King Cotton. But now, with all that gone, the South has nothing left to regain even a pinch of its preceding wealth.
 * How should the Southern economy be restored?**

As of now, they cannot survive on their own; the North must help them back to their feet. King Cotton has been dethroned and now it is time for a new age of economics in the South, an Industrial Era. There must be a system of factories established in every major town from Richmond to New Orleans. Many, if not most, of the displaced persons would now have an influx of readily available jobs as ship builders and tool manufacturers. The manufacturing of arms in the South, at this close proximity to the war and the ever apparent resentment towards the North, would not be ideal. With this job vacuum, new freedmen now have options to fill their void of recently obtained free time therefore eliminating the requisite for the Black Codes. As well as adding industry, railroads should be re-laid throughout the South with lines tied into the developing Transcontinental Railroad. The addition of these lines throughout the South would allow industry to be easily transported and the trading of materials from the North and South could commence much easier than if conducted by horseback or canal.

Farming, still a necessity, could be reestablished in areas not deeply affected by the war. Sharecropping could be instituted as the beginnings of economic freedom for the freedmen eventually evolving into freedmen running entire farms all the while adding to the economic stability of the South. Cotton never really held a high demand in the states compared to that of Britain, and at times that had been hazy: the over exportation of cotton to Britain led to the Panic 1819 after the need for cotton drastically dropped because of mass stock piling,. Right after war, America has a much greater want for farmers and crops than it does for cotton. With the North purchasing the excess crops, and the quick transportation on railroads, the South would be able to restore its economy little by little until it is close to its prewar status, all without the exploitation of slaves.

Union troops, under General William Tecumseh Sherman, occupied Atlanta in September 1864 and burned it to the ground that November. It was the same for Savannah a month later. The “Shermanizing” of the South left a bleak horizon speckled with few “Sherman Sentinels” (remains of chimneys and all that was left of the houses) and a charred landscape. At times, Sherman had little control over his troops whom “engaged in an orgy of pillaging.” The army lived off the land until nothing was left and then burned the empty shells of the once great Southern plantations. “War is hell,” Sherman himself quoted, but this was the first time in America that a war had been fought against civilian life. Even though the North was in the right -including Sherman- this waging of war against under protected civilians is highly immoral and even Lincoln agreed Sherman took the battle over the top.
 * What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?**

Since Southern civilians and veterans alike have to return to their desecrated cities and rebuild all they had from nothing, Union soldiers should embark on a large scale community service restoration of cities. Although tempers may flare at the outset, the South would eventually come to appreciate the help. This rebuilding could dampen post war aggression and even lead to a renewed amity between the North and the South. Once this was to happen, the re-admittance of the South to the United States would surely follow. If Union troops flocked to Atlanta or Savannah imposing martial law, the South would raise up arms and the Civil War would continue on. Cities could be rebuilt with the help of the Union Army and after the completion of the cities, most of the Army could return to the North; all, if finally on agreeable terms with the South.

But, if even after the cities are complete, the South is at bad terms with the North, some Union soldiers should stay posted in the cities to protect the freedmen from the Ku Klux Klan and to keep check on rebel riffraff. It might even be a good idea for the troops to accompany each freedman or Northern member involved in Southern legislature wherever they travel, and for good measure, keep tabs on higher ranking Confederate officers. The existence of the troops should not be an ominous presence for the South and in no way should the soldiers provoke the civilians lest America’s history is besmirched with another Boston Massacre.

We must reunify our country, at the moment we are incomplete. To make sure that our country is alive for years to come we need to let by gones be by gones and rebuild this country. We must embrace our southern brothers and sisters and forgive them. For the south is our family and like family when they make a mistake we must forgive them and embrace them, we forgive them but we do not let them forget that it was a mistake and not the correct choice. They must realize that equality is for all and that they lost the war and that there world will change no matted what they say. We will reunify our country.
 * Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)**

Overall I think this is a very good paper and is very well constructed with good ideas. There are though a few comments that I have. First off, I think the problem of what to do with the civilians that have lost theirs hoes in the South should be addressed. This could be answered by establishing refuge camps or organizations to help people in need. Also, I believe the punishment for Ex-Confederates is too harsh. If you want to rebuild the country and heal the war wounds than I suggest that you decide on a less scrutinizing punishment. I don’t think Confederates troops be banished, but assimilated into the Union army. I do agree though that high-ranking Confederate officers should not be in command of these troops. I believe that if you want to heal tensions than that no one should be jailed for treason. That will only create hostilities. I agree on your responses for what to do with freedman and who should vote and hold office. I also thought your response to representation was interesting and creative. I do though do not agree with the industrialization of the South. Who is going to pay for the South’s industrialization? If we take away Southern agriculture than where will America receive its food from? Taking away cotton all of a sudden will have a huge impact on the economy but I do believe that the South should get off its dependence on the “Cotton Kingdom”. Now that slavery has been outlawed, workers can find jobs on farms and help stimulate the economy by creating a class of consumers. Most Southerners would most likely be hostile to industry as it would destroy the Southern imagine as a gentile agriculturally based society. Overall your paper was excellent and I believe you answered the questions very well. Reconstruction Seduction Frank Fallon
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