Zebra



Hello Georgia!

Our primary goal in this plan is slow reunification, leading to stability. With a stable South we as a Union will be able to pass laws needed to help Blacks. We want to allow Blacks their civil rights without involving too many horrific results of this decision and upsetting the South. During this time of Reconstruction, it seems that the North took One Giant Leap to completely end the suppression of the Blacks instead of taking the little steps, which were needed for the south to heal. Our policy is one which will is in the best interest of the Blacks and their freedom. This policy also hopes to balance the happiness between the South and the North - Zebra Policy.

Southern states should not just have ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, prohibiting slavery but also protect the equality and civil rights of their African-American populations. The Black Codes- punitive statutes will not include curfews for the freedmen, and they will not be penalized or imprisoned for leaving the plantation without permission. The Freedman’s Bureau shall remain established, supported and not undermined. The freedmen will get their right to vote but not as quickly as they want. There will be a long process towards their votes and their participation in government. But they are and will have civil rights, and be treated equal as the white man.

The ex-confederates shall be sworn into a promise that prohibits their personal beliefs to interfere with making decisions for the country. This will prevent any unnecessary and unfair actions. Pardons will no longer be accepted if rules are not being followed. If and when they have an urge to speak their reasons have to be legitimate and unbiased, so the voting can be fair. They will have their representatives and their vote. They will be able to hold office but not be able to move up in rank. Their thoughts will be taken into consideration. If the ex-confederates do not follow through these laws they shall be removed from any position they are in. If they take matters into their own hands there will be major punishments. They shall ratify the amendments sparingly and truthfully.

The liberty to vote or hold office in the aftermath of the Civil War was a powerful position and a complex situation that needed to be approached with caution. The theme of our Reconstruction Plan is to take “baby steps” and not take those radical turns on the road to a renovated nation. The first few years following the war, black people will not immediately be given the right to vote or hold office: in consideration of the already extremely bitter Southerners. The black race will in time receive their voting rights when schools have been set up for their education, and the country comes to a more stable level. As for the ex-Confederate leaders, they will be banned from ever returning to any sort of leadership within the government. This is certainly reasonable, considering that if they return to high-influencing roles, nearly nothing will have changed at all: though devastated by the war, they would still have power and influence for more rebellion. Though restricted from office, they will be privileged with voting rights.

The flaws of Presidential Reconstruction and Congressional Reconstruction were that the first was too lenient, and the latter was too harsh. In order for a disbanded state to be readmitted into the Union, the state must first accept the 13th Amendment of the Constitution: prohibiting slavery from any state in the nation. In memory of President Abraham Lincoln and all soldiers who fought the fight, the Emancipation Proclamation will be followed through, securing the freedom of the black slave. The removed state must also accept the 14th Amendment, granting civil liberties and citizenship to the Freedmen. With the exception that former slaves will still count for three-fifths of a vote: only a temporary law, which will be abolished when the black men are given full rights to voting. Hopefully, this will weaken or diminish the acts of the Ku Klux Klan: with the reasoning that the problem arose from too much power (corrupt or not) given to the freed Blacks. As for the 15th Amendment: it will not be forced upon the South until cotton production increases and a considerable amount of stability is established. (An estimation of 7 – 10 years).

The Southern economy, after the civil war, was in a terrible condition to restore its own economy which will lead to stability of the south. Many poor whites resulted in “sharecropping” which was when the Blacks worked for the whites, on their land, and would provide labor yet they would receive 50% percent profit from the crops. The problem was that the Blacks had to provide the labor and their own tools to work on the crops; the black man’s only profit from this system was: financial struggle. In our plan, the 60%-40% plan, since the whites have more money than the Blacks, the whites would have to buy the tools and they would receive the 60% of the profit and the Blacks would receive 40% of profit and tools to use. Next we would build schools to educate the Blacks and whites; yet keep the idea of segregation. Many radicals in the North and Freedmen, or Blacks, may be upset over this, but we need to keep in mind that it is a step by step process. One of the reasons that the South has trouble keeping money is due to the fact that carpetbaggers for the North are raising the taxes on those who cannot afford to continue paying them. The solution would be to tax carpetbaggers to start a business in the south and pass a bill that would not allow carpetbaggers to tax more than ¼ of the Southerners’ yearly income. This money will go towards the restoration of the southern economy. This restoration is a slow process which allow the south to take in everything slowly; which will lead to a reunification with the Union. Unity and Civil rights are our main goals. With a stable economy the south will have the base for stability within their states which will allow for an easier acceptance of defeat and future policies benefiting the Blacks

Union troops were the only protection that the Blacks had in the South after the Civil War and after their departure many feared their safety. The Union troops were the only attempt at getting the south to really cooperate. Our proposal is that the Union troops stay in the south in order to help rebuild schools, and help maintain the policies passed such as: our 60% 40% plan and the taxes on the carpetbaggers. The troops will also aid in the building of schools. If force needs to be used to obtain troops, then the Government will help support the family of the troops; as well as allowing the troops to have relief by visiting their families certain times of the year. This certainly implies that these plans will be carried out over several years. Step by Step.

As stated prior to this conclusion, our main goal is to grant civil rights to the blacks without causing terrible results and disconcerting the South. During the Reconstruction, actions were taken too hastily and not fully thought out, or they were not followed. Our will is in the best interest for Blacks and their freedom; our plans helps modify the actions that were taken too quickly. The main idea of our reconstruction plan is to make gradual changes, as not to completely uproot the "romantic" era of the South. These smaller steps will help alleviate the South’s devastation, make the healing easier. We hope to establish a happy medium with the North and South.



The idea of slow reunification is a good way to approach Reconstruction because extreme measures, as you mentioned, could result in Southern or Northern anger. It is inevitable that the South will be angered with the passage of African American civil rights because of their extreme racial tendencies. The Zebra Policy of avoiding the one giant leap towards reconstruction is extremely prudent. Obviously, the main goal is to create a balance of happiness between the North and the South, and hopefully small steps will facilitate this process. In order to keep this a slow process, civil rights will have to come over time. The passage of civil rights along with the Thirteenth Amendment is a drastic action that will for sure upset the South and possibly the North. Perhaps if the Freedman’s Bureau remains established for a period of time before African Americans are granted civil rights.
 * RESPONSE(S) TO TEAM PLAN:**

It is prudent to include that ex-confederates personal beliefs may have an effect on their decisions. The severity that is implemented in your plan is necessary and will be effective. The actions that the Confederates took against the nation need to be treated in a strict manner in order to prevent similar problems in the future. However, might it also be necessary to forbid any further acts of secession in an oath that the ex-confederates take? If your goal is to punish the ex-confederates then your plan is good. However, if you want to create an equal society, perhaps you should consider having all officials take the same oath and make the same promises to be faithful to the Union. (Just a suggestion.)

Your paragraph regarding “baby steps” is in direct accordance with the introductory policy. It clarifies the major ideas that you presented and is very well written. However, it contradicts the passage of the African American civil rights with the Thirteenth Amendment, so you may want to eliminate this action at the beginning. Direct passage of the Fourteenth Amendment may cause unease among Southerners. It is possible that passing this law after a period of time would make the plan more appealing to the Southerners.

In order to restore the economy, your 60%-40% sounds very effective. It is reasonable, yet still directed to help the African Americans. It is taking the small steps that you introduced at the beginning of the plan. Again, keeping the idea of segregation contradicts the passage of civil rights for African Americans, so just keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that many in the North were extremely racist, just as Southerners, and just opposed the institution of slavery. Your restoration plan also sounds very effective.

While it is appealing to the freedmen to keep the Union soldiers in the South, keep in mind that it is going to inspire extreme anger within many of the Southerners and ex-Confederates. However, I think that it is a good plan to have them help build schools and lend support to the dwindling South.

Overall, your plan sounds awesome! I really enjoyed reading it. The main thing that I have to comment on is the civil rights. Just be careful that you do not contradict yourself throughout the piece. I would say that granting civil rights to African Americans immediately following the war might be too ambitious. This action is really going to anger the South. However, later you say that the rights of African Americans will be granted slowly but surely. I think that this plan is very smart. It is a compromise that is appealing to the South and to the Freedman.

Your plan is awesome! :) Avery Calhoun