Sofa+King+Awesome



=Bailey, Harrison, and Addie =
 * **What is the primary goal of reconstruction? **
 * The primary goal of this reconstruction process is to create and allow a peaceful and somewhat straightforward transition to a free nation, one where slavery no longer exists. It is understood that the South thrives off of slavery to keep their economy running, but the idea of giving other human beings a title of being subordinate is wrong and needs to be terminated immediately. In order to make this dream a reality, all parts of the nation must be willing to compromise in order to ensure that our nation comes together to form a stronger society than the one that existed before the Civil War. It is our hope to make sure that the South's economy is restored and will thrive once more, only this time it will not do so based on the hard work of slaves. (Great intro! It immediately presents what this group will do make sure that the United States becomes a better place after Reconstruction in a logical way.) <--- I echo this comment... (Nicely said)

i have to say, i love how confident and discriptive your plan is. ((: -Kayla Young Agree with the statment "giving other human beings a title ..." > So there is the possibility that states could be readmitted into the Union without having any representation in government? How would "taxation without representation" lead to more unity within the nation? Won't that cause more conflict than if the states were not readmitted? This may seem like a large percentage, but it is necessary in achieving a non-partisan government.
 * **What should be done to the ex-Confederates?**
 * The damage that the Confederates caused during the war within our nation can and will not be forgotten by the North. (True that)  Their support for the evil act of slavery continues to flourish, and this support could influence a Confederate's decisions once put into office. Putting a Confederate into office would do nothing but harm the plan of permanently removing slavery from this nation. Therefore, for the time being, Confederates will no longer be allowed to hold a governmental position in office. Does this mean that the blacks will be the only ones in office since the whites with political power can't run for office? Who will the ex-Confederates vote for? Does this mean that all Southerners will have to be ruled by Northern Republicans? How will the Southerners have any say in Congress? How will you react to the violence that ensues? ﻿ (Don't you think this would greatly anger the Southerners and ultimately deepen the divide between the North and South?) The North and South are already are indisagreement with eachother, i believe this would just make things worse. Besides this fact, they will continue to be treated as normal citizens of the United States. They will continue to have the right to vote. However, they will have no larger say in governmental issues than that one vote. Do you honestly think that confederates will even let them have that? <span style="background-color: #120f0f; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Maybe in lala land, but i do not think the Confederates would ever agree to this. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">We have devised a plan (The 10 Year Plan) stating that for at least the next 10 years, ex-Confederates can not hold positions in office. <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0066ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿Won't there just be more anger from the ex-Confederates with the 10 year plan? After the 10 years are up wont there still be ex-Confederates in office who will try to sabotage the Freedmen?What will you do about that? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The time length can be extended if need be <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(will there be official conditions under which this time needs to be extended?) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">. The North understands that these ex-Confederates will need time to adjust to the fact that the former slaves are now equal to the Whites. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿ How will you extend the length of time? Will other people support extending the 10 year plan? It is possible that the next president in office will not support your plan. ﻿ <span style="background-color: #141212; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(They're gonna be maaaaaaaad) <span style="background-color: #141212; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><---AGREE> More explanation on this idea please? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Until this concept can be fully understood by the ex-Confederates, they may not hold a governmental position. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This could take decades. Will you keep Northerners in the South for that long? Is the North even willing to keep people in these positions for this length of time? How will you determine that ex-Confederates "understand" this concept of equality. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">We believe that it will take a minimum of 10 years for this to be understood (dont you think that your people will agree waiting that long?)-Kayla Young ﻿i think 10 years is a bit too long, but i guess if it works then go for it. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(Why 10 years? Why wait for the ex-Confederates to agree to letting the freedmen have equal rights? Won't that keep freedmen like slaves, as they have to wait until the ex-Confederates finally agree that they are human beings?), but if by that time there are still major racial issues continuing, the length of time will be extended to ensure that the government of this country is not one filled with prejudice. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">How can you force people to change their minds? Won't there always be people who hold on to their prejudices? Won't withholding the right to hold office just cause the ex-Confederates to blame the freedmen for their misfortunes? <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(I second this)
 * ==<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">What should be done to the freedmen? ==
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The freedmen will not immediately be allowed all of the rights of an average American citizen. This is in no way an act of discrimination toward the African Americans, but merely a plan of action to protect them from the hatred that still runs deep in the South. <span style="background-color: #120f0f; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿I understand what you are trying to do, but the African Americans are still not getting all the rights they deserve by doing this. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(I get your point, but that could keep African Americans down in society. I know you are trying to give the rights to freedmen gradually, so that there won't be any uprisings from racist southerners, but not granting freedmen the same rights as whites may result in the same dilemma during the actual Reconstruction Era). <span style="color: #d292f2; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The African Americans will have the opportunity to vote. However, they will have their own polls <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(how will their polls be protected from white supremacists?) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> where they can vote in order to avoid the large amount of violence that would appear if the freedmen were to show up at a poll where the Whites voted. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿ So you plan to segregate them and not let them be equal to the other whites just because it might make other whites mad? ﻿ <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Do you think these polls will be left undisturbed? Doesn't this seem like just the place that white supremacist groups like the KKK would target and destroy to limit the black people's power? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The freedmen will not be able to hold a political position in office for some time in order to allow time for the Southerners to take steps in accepting that the African Americans are equal citizens in the United States. <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(How can you ensure that they're ever going to accept it? What steps would they be taking?) <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #004cff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">﻿ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The plan that we propose for this issue is that the freedmen will not be able to hold any office for 10 years. <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0030ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">How are you planning to deal with the freedmen running against the Southerners for office? Isn't it likely that the KKK will prevent any African American from running for office? <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">So just when the ex-Confederates are allowed to hold office, the freedmen will be able to hold office? Won't this cause major turmoil? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Once again, this 10 year period is in hopes of the Whites in the South using the time to accept the idea that the freedmen are their equals. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(Why would it take specifically ten years for Whites to realize that freedmen are equal to themselves?) After this time, the freedmen may run for local and state offices. After a period of 15 years, the freedmen are open to run for federal offices. This plan should allow the Whites to have time to understand that the freedmen are equal citizens and that they have the same rights as the Whites. <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(why would you think the south would accept them as their "leaders"?)-Kayla Young <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">It took decades for the Southerners to even begin accepting blacks as equal. Are you sure this task can be completed in a mere 10 to 15 years? <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0065ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">What if they don't accept that they are equals after 15 years? <span style="background-color: #0000ff; color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">What about the people who start violent uprisings against blacks? (KKK etc..)
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">As previously mentioned, the damage that the Confederates caused to the Union is extreme. Forward progress is necessary, and that must be accomplished by having people other than ex-Confederates in the state governments. Therefore, the Federal Bureau of Reunification will be formed. Southern elections will go as planned, but the FBR will make sure that no ex-Confederates or pro-Southern government members will be elected. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Once again, does this mean that the South will only be able to vote for Northerners? After this bloody Civil War, will Northerners be willing to devote even more time in the South? How will you handle resulting violence? <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0091ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Will the Southerners even allow "carpetbagger Yankees" even the chance to be in office? <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(Doesn't this mean that that the South will only be able to vote for Northerners? Don't Southerns hate the Northerners right now? How will that go over?) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This goal will be difficult to accomplish, as the government officials are elected by the people; because of this, the FBR will step in whenever necessary and ascertain that the officials are unbiased. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(How will the FBR ensure that no ex-Confederate or pro-Southerner attains a role in office? If the FBR accomplishes its goal, how would the ex-Confederates and pro-Southerners handle it?) The FBR will be a part of Southern government for a minimum of 10 years to allow the South to adjust to the changes in their society. As for the issue of the newly freed African Americans, they will be just as equal as Whites. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Earlier you said that they will not immediately be equal to whites. When will the change occur? <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">﻿ 10 years? what? What happens if it takes longer to do so? does that mean your plan isn't working? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">However, we understand that if they were elected into office, their lives would be in danger because of the anger felt by many whites. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Does this mean that you think their lives will not be endanger if they are given the right to vote, own land, earn pay, be educated, etc.? What about the KKK? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Again, the 10 Year Plan would be put into place. No African Americans would be able to hold a state office for a minimum of 10 years in order for Whites to grasp the concept of equality. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(That might give Whites more reason to place themselves above African Americans.) <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(Couldn't have said it better, Lujain) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The African Americans would also have their own voting booths to prevent further violence from occurring. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Would it be better to segregate them in order to protect them or station officers at the voting stations to ensure that they get to vote even though it might upset the whites? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> We understand that it may seem unfair or biased, but it is truly for the safety of the freedmen that we are establishing this 10 Year Plan. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Won't this segregation only further the racial divide? Will the whites ever accept the idea of racial equality if they do not have to associate with blacks?
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">There have been issues raised as to whether the South should simply be allowed back or should be punished before rejoining the Union. We believe that the ex-Confederate states cannot become a part of the United States once again without adjusting their governments and principles. New amendments have recently been passed - such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments - and all states must ratify those amendments. <span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0069ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I believe they should do this too, that's what our plan called for the Southern states to do. Dont you think they will just cross their fingers and "agree" ? However, ratifying those amendments is only the first step in being reintegrated into the Union. Abraham Lincoln proposed a 10% Plan, in which 10% of a state's population must accept and be willing to pledge allegiance and join the Union. We believe this plan is a good one; however, we feel that it needs some adjusting to placate those who feel 10% isn't enough. Therefore, we propose a 20% Plan. We feel this is a larger (but not too large) percentage that should please all parties involved. But that means only 20% of the people will have to support you while 80% won't have to support you and you will represent them in the government that they don't support ﻿ . <--My thoughts exactly. While this 20% (What about the other 80%?) Plan readmits states into the Union, it does not give them representation in the government. At least half of the population of a state must swear allegiance and equality in order to gain full representation in the government. What will stop them from lying and pledging their allegiance only in order to be fully represented again? How would you stop this, would you be able to kick them out of the Union again if they break their pledge? (What about the people who "agree"?
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**How should the Southern economy be restored?**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Southern economy was devastated at the end of the Civil War. Not only did the violence destroy farmland and crops, but also the Southern economy was totally dependent on the labor of slaves. The Union will attempt to assist the South to rebuild their crippled economy. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">With what money will you help the South with? The Civil War cost the North a lot of money too, and the Northerners will not support a tax in order to help the South who they just fought against. How exactly will this be paid for? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The new Southern economy will be heavily based on agriculture, but the North will endeavor to increase industry and manufacturing as well. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(Will this keep the South industrially far behind the North and other European countries? How will the agriculture South be able to keep up?) Farms and plantations will have to rely on labor from paid workers considering the end of slavery. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Who will pay the laborers if the South's economy is so weakened? What if the Southerners refuse to pay the freedmen; will there be any systems to regulate and ensure that laborers are receiving proper compensation for their work? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The Southern economy must develop a strong foundation and function independently without the North’s assistance. Once the economy is operating successfully, then the South must face more financial punishment for the damage caused during the war. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">How will it be determined that the economy is steady enough to begin the reparation process? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The South must pay steady, annual sums of money until the beginning of the 20th century. <span style="background-color: #00e0ff; color: #0040ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Are they even going to be stable by then, they are in a financial crisis right now? And will they even be willing to pay the reparations? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The reparations paid to the North must be enough to appease angry Northern radicals but not enough to further enrage the despondent Southerners. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">How much will the South have to pay and how will you determine that amount? <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Won't Southerners be angered at having to pay any reparations? <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">(Doesn't the South need money worse than the North does at this point? Won't this fact anger the Southerners?)
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Although the South cannot be governed on its own, we believe that the Union troops should play a minor role in the rebuilding of the South. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Will the troops step in to stop the intimidation of blacks? What if more troops are needed but cannot be summoned in time? How will you take care of these kinds of problems? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> We feel that if all Union troops were stationed in the South, the South would be further agitated. <span style="color: #b200ff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(How will the troops handle groups like the Ku Klux Klan?) The Union soldiers should be prepared in case of an outbreak in the South, but they should not be armed and ready at all times. <span style="background-color: #00e0ff; color: #005fff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">How can they be prepared for an outbreak unarmed? How could they hold order after a riot <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">? <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">(If they are not armed at all times, what should they do if a riot should break out? They would be defenseless and have no means of bringing about order...) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> In order to keep with our beliefs that the African Americans need to be protected, a few Union soldiers may be stationed in the South and making sure no acts of racial violence are committed. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">If there are are "a few" Union soldiers present in the South, doesn't this mean that they are "armed and ready at all times"? <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">again, I echo this previous comment in orange... <span style="background-color: #120f0f; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">I second that. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">They should also be present at times of elections to dispel any chance of Whites targeting African American voting polls and preventing them from voting. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Why would you segregate the black voting polls if you have to guard them also? You might as well protect the blacks when they vote at the white voting facilities. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> By letting the South do most of the work in governing, Southerners will not feel so antagonistic toward the Northerners. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">But are Southerners doing most of the work of governing if they can't hold office? Secondly, won't Southern police forces become corrupt and turn a blind eye towards racism? In history, weren't police officers often prominent members of the KKK? How will you ensure proper justice for all citizens? <span style="background-color: #151215; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">(But isn't that unfair towards the Northerners? Don't they have just as much of a right to hold office?
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">**Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated )**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 25px;">The Reconstruction Process plans to create a free nation where the institution of slavery has ceased to exist. The end of the practice of slavery is the best way to go about reunifying our nation. The South’s economy was completely dependent on slavery. The termination of slavery would force the South to change the manner in which their economy functions. <span style="background-color: #ffe291; color: #ff5c00; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 25px;">Won't this lead to a weakened economy if they no longer have free labor? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: 25px;">We must be willing to compromise in order to come together. We must form a stronger society than before the war without depending on the practice of slavery. Hopefully, the North will be able to assist the South in returning stability to their economy through more ethical manners. What if the North is unwilling to help the South as much as you are planning on?

<span style="background-color: #00f2ff; color: #0046ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kara Purple = Lujain Final comment: Overall, I think this group had a fantastic idea of how to reunify the United States. Like Emily said, bits and pieces had weak spots, but all plans had weak spots as well. High Five! Emily Wages Caitlin Trude = This greenish brown color Andrew Pecoraro
 * Disclaimer: The majority of the above comments do not reflect my personal opinion. They are merely to point out possible weak points in the plan, and since this problem has no perfect answer, all of the plans will have possible weak spots. God knows mine did. Good work guys!

Hey. You guys overall did a nice job with this. Your introduction effectively gave your intentions. Your moderate approach, however, may get us back in to the historical paradox that the South can win the war's reconstruction. I like the idea of your 10 year plan, but I have my doubts. First, I don't know if much of the South will be able to vote or run for office if you block both freedmen and all ex-Confederates. That leaves like 2 people and a bunch of women, who, at the time period, would be deemed unfit for the "man's job" that was politics. I think that that would leave bitter hostility towards the North because the South would feel they have no representation in the government. Also, to suspend the freedmen's ability to run for office would, in effect, suspend the Constitution, right? The new 14th and 15th Amendments guarantee that ability, so you would have to repeal those Amendments in a North-led abolitionist-sympathizing Congress that wouldn't like that very much. Probably my last issue was the idea of having all of the freedmen vote in the same place to avoid white hostility. The problem with that is that the KKK could pretty easily target that, and there wouldn't be too many of the freedmen left to vote. That's all. Again, overall, nice work. - Jon Oyan Kayla Young- Black and Green James Suehs = Blue/black Keanna Sandoval- Orange & Black

Lauren Sahli - Pink & Black