Fried+Chicken

=﻿Freud Chicken=



As a nation torn apart by war, we, the citizens of the Union and the Confederacy alike, are all desperate to begin convalescing from our deep battle wounds. In order to heal and reconstruct our injured nation, we must work together as one – as the single, unified nation for which we fought. It is therefore vital that we focus our attention on the reunification of the quarrelling sides. When we can mend this rift and reunite; when we can combine our strengths to recover from this tragedy; when we can once again refer to our country as the **United** States of America – then will we be able to look towards the future of improving our nation and its policies a whole. Thus do we propose that we, the Northerners, attempt to aid our Southern brethren in rebuilding their damaged homeland rather than harshly punishing them for their wrongdoings, while still utilizing appropriate policies to prevent further dissolution of government or rebellion. There are certain guidelines which would be best followed in the interests of achieving this goal: **( this is best to be so understanding to the southerners, so that the people of the south do not feel targeted against.** **it will make everyone feel equal once again****)**

**What should be done to the ex-Confederates?** To rebel against the government is treason – there is no escaping that reality, no matter what the cause. Nor would it be safe to assume that those who have committed treason of the highest offense will back down so easily. In order to assure the stability of the newly patched Union and prevent possible future rebellious recurrences, certain measures must be taken against the masterminds behind the Confederate rebellion. Therefore, all men who once served as high ranking officials during the war will be tried for crimes against the country, and, if convicted, will be prohibited from running for any political position, whether said position is state or national. Only after said persons have served their punishment //or after the end of Reconstruction// will they be allowed to run for a position of political power. Additionally, based on the severity of the offense, those convicted will be required to pay a fine which will go towards the aid of the Union’s Reconstruction efforts. **( do you think it is best to try these men in court? or will the South feel targeted against and feel like they are being treated unfairly? The South felt that their reasons for rebellion were because they felt that their government was not treating them equally. Maybe they don't feel that their leaders should be punished so severely in being banned from government positions there is sure to be much backlash)**

**What should be done for the freedmen?** Although our main goal in healing our weakened nation is to ease the problems created in the South, it would be foolish to ignore the issue which lit the fatal fuse in the first place. The rights of the former slaves are to be respected. Slavery is officially illegal as of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the freedmen shall be recognized as citizens of the United States. As citizens, the freed blacks will be granted the right to vote. Segregation will, however, be legal for a time, as for now, these are the only measures that will be taken concerning the welfare of the freedmen. A plan is scheduled for the future which will assist in the settling of the freedmen into acquired land in the South, start a solid system of black education, and gradually put an end to segregation, but this will not be put into action until the //end// of Southern reconstruction. With tensions the way they are now, the safest way to ensure that our efforts towards equality will go uninterrupted is to keep the focus on reunification and governmental stabilization. **(that is good to focus on stabilizing the nation first in order to keep tempers calm)**

**Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?** As a part of a single, unified nation, the Southern states shall rightly retain the political rights granted to those in the North, with only moderate restrictions to prevent the abuse of power by potential vengeful citizens. Suffrage shall be granted to all male citizens of the South, //except// for the higher officers convicted of crimes during the ex-Confederate trials. Fraud and intimidation of voters shall be strictly prohibited, and those found to be guilty of such shall be convicted of federal crime. **(Perhaps an integration of voters and educating the ex-Conderates and the Southerners on national issues- the Southerners may not understand WHY they are wrong because they haven't been educated on it- they need to be educated on the wrongness of their ancestors/ peers. Slavery was a way of life and it will be difficult for them to adjust to a life where their previous property is not viewed as equal- otherwise good idea).**

**What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?** If we are to reconnect and reconcile North and South, we mustn’t hinder the process by creating obstacles that could potentially keep the nation split. In order to be allowed back into the Union, southern states must vote themselves back in – 25% is the minimum required to be re-accepted as a state. Returning states must also agree to certain terms of Reconstruction – under all circumstances will the ex-Confederate leaders of rejoining states be put on trial, the rights of the freedmen will be federally protected, and the minimal Union troop intervention must be accepted without resistance. However, the restoration of Southern economy may be denied as a matter of personal pride for any state that feels it can take care of itself. **(Good on regaining rights, but perhaps more needs to be done on not restoring the Southern economy but rather creating a new one that coincides with the Northern economy).**

**How should the Southern economy be restored?** In order to lift the Southern economy back into a state equal to or beyond that of its pre-Civil War condition, a radical and comprehensive plan of reconstruction will be implemented, involving each major aspect of Southern society, including agriculture, industrial manufacturing, public education, and even a nationwide system of healthcare resources for those who choose to access it. However, it should be stated upfront that this plan will not simply reconstruct the Southern economy; rather, it will result in a complete and fundamental shift in the way the South contributes to the nation as whole. No longer will the South be known as the “Cotton Kingdom”, instead it will re-grow into a diverse agricultural system of many varieties of crops, thus acting as the nation’s breadbasket for foodstuffs of all sorts. Instead of being relegated to a largely agrarian existence, the federal government will invest heavily in projects that it deems helpful in constructing a healthy industrial sector within the South. Specifically, the Southern Economic Recovery Act, as it shall henceforth be known, includes the following:

I.) With respect to each specific sector of the Southern economy, a governmental organization shall be created to oversee the responsible spending of funds allotted to various programs and projects. The organizations are as listed:

1. The Bureau of Agricultural Oversight: a body dedicated to the agricultural resurrection of Southern states. Actions taken by this body will include the awarding of grants to assist farmers, both black and white, and the creation of state and city-owned municipal farms where land may be rented for a monthly fee (with all fees being reinvested back into the reconstruction program).

2. Education and Enrichment Commission of the United States: a body dedicated to the education and enrichment of all Southern children and adults, again both black and white, through such things as: the construction of public schools for all children, segregated by race for 8 years and gradually combined afterwards, the building of libraries, historical museums, universities, and various scientific institutions for the “mental advancement” of all Southerners.

3. Industrial Infrastructure Construction Committee: an entity dedicated to the industrial development of the South. This committee will hear and review requests for the construction of things like factories, restaurants, stores, and other commercially viable ideas sent in by local and state governments, in addition to proposals sent in by individuals (black and white). No specific economic status is needed to submit a proposal, but those deemed frivolous or for the sole use of personal gain will be thrown out immediately. Rather than distribute funds at the national level, each state will be allotted a specific budget that it may pay out for these various projects, while a national board will act as a monitor to make sure money is being used for its intended purpose.

4. ConCare: ConCare will act as a “pay as you come” healthcare provider for those in need of any sort of medical attention or assistance. Clinics and hospitals will be setup throughout the South to serve local communities. The cost of any medical care will be determined before any work occurs, unless a patient is in life threatening danger, and will be based upon a number of economic factors, including the patient’s income, amount of parental and/or financial responsibility, among other things. Persons unable to pay for care upfront may choose to enroll themselves in a payment plan in which any medical expenses may be paid over a period of time and in dated installments. In extreme cases, to be decided at the discretion of the head of each medical facility, a bill may be waived or forgiven for those who can simply not afford to pay or are unable to work to repay their bill. This program will receive a small amount of federal taxpayer funding, but will be mostly reliant upon those the fees paid by those who use it, making it largely self-sufficient organization.

II.) It should be stated here and now, to all Southerners, regardless of race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation, that this massive undertaking of Southern Reconstruction by the federal government shall be completely free of discrimination towards anyone, so long as they are an adult citizen of the United States of America. This program is not targeted at one specific race or group, but it is instead dedicated to helping everyone in the South regain and expand their personal prosperity and well-being. **(Great idea, really well thought out).**

**What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?** Soldiers within the Union army, in conjunction with a state-run police force, shall act solely as a situational monitoring force. Union troops stationed within Southern states will be assigned the role of military observers, whose job it will be to record and report on any and all problems relating to fair and just law enforcement, the effectiveness of police operations, and the overall situation within each location as whole. The number of military observers present within each county will be determined by the size of the population in that area, the higher the population, the more troops will be present. Troop numbers will also be increased in areas where civil unrest and disobedience is most concentrated. Rather than having Union soldiers take on the task of maintaining peace, a federally funded state police force will be created within each Southern state, whose responsibility it will be to maintain law and order. These state police departments will act as the sole peacekeeping force, with Union troops playing no active role in peacekeeping operations. **(What about rebuilding the economy)** Union military observers will report back on a monthly basis to a federal bureau of oversight on the conditions within each region, at which time the bureau of oversight may decide to take necessary action to reallocate resources where they are needed most. These actions may include increases in funding to certain state police forces when violence and crime is at higher than normal levels, and reduction and/or redistribution of state police officers from one country or town to another. Logistical and tactical plans for operations within police forces shall be the responsibility of each state. Finally, however most importantly, if the situation within any Southern state deteriorates to the point where a police force is overwhelmed and is unable to cope with the demands of day to day operations, Union troops may be called in temporarily (no longer than is absolutely necessary) to quell extreme rebellion and unrest. As soon as conditions have stabilized to a reasonably safe point, control over police operations will be handed back to the state police force.  The war is at last over. It is time for us to begin the long trek back to stability in our country. With these policies, we hope to conquer the problems that lay in the path to our one true goal – the reunification of our broken nation. Only together can we hope to overcome the issues that the future is sure to bring. Divided, the conflict and hostility will only continue. United, as in //truly// united, we will be able to strengthen each other and create for this country a brighter future than we have ever seen.**(Good conclusion, maybe expand on the primary goal of Reconstruction)**