School's back in session! Hooray! I'm so pumped to see you all tomorrow morning! Let's get FIRED UP! WOOT WOOT!
Yea, ok, now down to business. First, mega-congratulations to the SCS soccer team for the state championship. Second order of business - if you'd like to participate in the test-pass offer, the vlogs aren't due until Friday. Also, cruise on over to www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for lesson plans for all my classes.
Now the homework. We've studied the Civil War for several weeks now, and your research and essays have been excellent. The period of study we're entering now is as essential as any other when it comes to understanding America, yet, being sandwiched between the Civil War and the exciting 20th century, it is often overlooked. Think about it: in a period of 36 years (less than your history teacher has been alive) three presidents were assassinated. Can you imagine picking up the pieces after the Civil War? How difficult would it be to put a nation back together after the death and destruction, especially given the untimely death of Lincoln less than a week after the war ended? Still, America, now occupying the land from sea to shining sea, was ready for new challenges.
Blacks were not only set free from slavery, but given citizenship and the right to vote (the men were, anyway). It would take another 100 years before the descendants of the former slaves would be guaranteed their civil rights, however, as hatred, bitterness, and racism gripped the southern culture.
One might think that Americans would be so sick of war that they would have avoided it regardless of the cost, but, of course, that is never the case. No sooner was the Civil War over when Americans turned their attention to the Native Americans who were occupying land in the west that now appeared much more valuable than before. And the US entered the "Age of Imperialism" when we attacked Spain for reasons that now seem a little hard to explain. (When the US Navy defeated the Spanish forces in Manila and seized the Philipines, a surprised President McKinley only had the vaguest notion of where the Philipines are located!).
The first task at hand was Reconstruction. For your assigment this week, please consider the two philosophies concerning the question of the southern states. Presidents Lincoln and Johnson favored restoring rights and property (except slaves, of course) to former Confederates who were willing to take an oath of allegiance to the US. Others (mostly radical northern Republicans who despised Johnson) thought of the southern states as conquored enemies who ought to be used to the North's benefit. Choose one of the following topics and write an essay about it, viewing the issue through both sides of the philosophical divide. Here's the list: The Civil War Amendments (13th-15th), "Carpetbaggers", the founding of Arlington National Cemetery, the Freedman's Bureau, and the Reconstruction Act of 1867. Minimum 200 words, at least 2 responses (total of 150 words). Include your sources.
Here's something for looking ahead. As you know, this class focuses on the history of our country from the Civil War to the present. We should get through the chronological history in plenty of time to focus on some topical history near the end of the school year. I anticipate units on Kentucky history, the Civil Rights movement, and the history of Christianity in America. Good stuff!
The Civil War Amendments (12th-14th)
ReplyDelete12th Amendment
This amendment was to change the voting process. This amendment states that two votes will be cast, one for President the other for Vice-president. The President and the Vice-president cannot be from the same states, perhaps to reduce the odds of the elected candidates from having the same view.
13th Amendment
This amendment was basically to outlaw slavery in all US states and territories. It also gives congress the power to enforce this amendment. It was kind of short, which can be dangerous. It still gives the government the power to force work on a convicted felon without pay (aka: community service).
14th Amendment
This amendment gave blacks their freedom. It also prevents the government from taking a citizen’s land without justification. This amendment does not just extend to blacks but to all citizens born in the Us or naturalized. It also stated that every person shall be counted as a whole when appointing representatives. Representatives or officials could not have been part of any criminal acts. Lastly, this amendment stated that the government would not pay for the freed slaves or for rebellious causes. The one problem with this amendment, Indians were not considered to be citizens.
Thanks To
http://www.usconstitution.net.
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 was brought upon by radical republicans who thought of the south as conquered enemies. It was passed by Congress on March 2, 1867. It separated the South into five military districts. Which were as follows: Virginia; North and South Carolina; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida; Arkansas and Mississippi; Louisiana and Texas. Each of these states or group of states was ruled by one major general. Elections were also held in each state where everyone could vote, with the exception of women, and everyone was counted as a person for representation. The men that ran these five military districts were chosen by Andrew Jackson with a lot of help from Ulysses S. Grant. When the Act was first brought up Andrew Jackson vetoed the Act immediately but congress re-passed the Bill the same day. There was also a second Reconstruction Act that was passed on March 23rd of the same year that aloud commanders to supervise elections and basically help constitute new governments. Andrew Jackson also vetoed This act, but Congress re-passed the bill. He thought it interfered with the right of the American citizen to "be left to the free exercise of his own judgment when he is engaged in the work of forming the fundamental law under which he is to live." Also following these acts there were small supplementary acts that allowed commanders to register the voters and run elections. All states returned to the Union by 1870.
ReplyDeleteI got my info. from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASreconstruction.htm
Carpetbaggers
ReplyDeleteCarpetbaggers was a term used to describe northerners who, during the Reconstruction era after the civil war, moved to the South to take advantage of their completely destroyed economy. Carpetbaggers formed an alliance with scalawags- white southerners who supported the Reconstruction- and freed slaves; these groups politically controlled the Confederate states during some of the Reconstruction. The South’s economy was so bad during this time that someone with even just a very small amount of money would have many opportunities, because you purchase land and stuff very cheaply. Many of the carpetbaggers were well-educated, middle-class men who would buy or lease big plantations and farms, and hire freed black slaves to do the work for them. They would make lots of money and become quite wealthy by doing this. The majority of carpetbaggers were former Union soldiers. Some of the carpetbaggers were the politicians who corrupted the Reconstruction government to enrich themselves through acts like bribes.
The term carpetbaggers comes from the big carpetbags that they would carry their stuff in when they came to the South. Carpetbags were often made out of pieces of old carpets, hence the name carpetbags. With a lot of people traveling then, there was a need for cheap luggage for ordinary people, and that’s how carpetbags came about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetbaggers
and
http://www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs, lead a garrison of troops stationed at Arlington, VA used the grounds of Arlington for a military cemetery on June 15, 1864. Meigs had the intention of making the Lee house completely unlivable by creating a massive union graveyard around the house. The first entries into Arlington were 1800 union soldiers who died during the Battle of Bull Run. The tomb created for them was erected in the rose garden and its dimensions were 20 ft. in width and 10 ft. in depth. This monument was the first of its kind created in order to show respect to the dead and to spite Robert E. Lee and the property he owned.
ReplyDeleteLee and his wife never tried to get their property back, maybe it was because they respected the dead, maybe its was because they didn't want to. I don't know why they didn't but I do know that the Arlington Cemetery houses the remains of the bravest men and women who have ever fought and died for our country. And Meigs, the man who created the cemetery out of spite, actually did more good and have the dead more respect than he previously anticipated.
this is my source:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html#top
Jon thanks for talking about carpetbaggers. I had no earthly idea what a carpetbagger was and honestly if you called me that I'd probably get mad if I hadn't known better. But regardless, the men who took advantage of those who couldn't control their own government was both a smart but fairly rude idea. I know that if the carpetbaggers had never came around though that most of the southern states would have lacked leadership and would have been even more unstable in the post civil war environment.
ReplyDeleteCalben you make a good point when it comes to the 12th amendment. I never really thought the president and vice-president being from the same state and having the same views as a likely happening. I don't know why really I guess it just occurred to me how that might work out.
ReplyDeleteThe Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands or what most call the Freedmen's Bureau was a government agency that helped troubled refugees after the Civil War. The Freedmen's Bureau created the Freedmen's Bureau Bill which was started by Abraham Lincoln and was passed by Congress on March 3, 1865. The word freedmen was another name for freed former slaves which is why the Bill was called that because it was to help freed slaves. The Bill was to last a year after the Civil War. It was intended to help the many freed slaves from the South through health care, education, and employment. It later helped reunite black families. The Freedmen's Bureau spent a large amount of cash on schools, hospitals, building homes, and it also gave 15 million rations of food to the freedmen. The results of the Bureau's work was 4,000 schools and 100 hospitals were built to aid freed black slaves. The Freedmen's Bureau also helped the freed slaves by helping them adjust to their new freedoms that they still didn't understand what to do with.
ReplyDeleteIn 1866, former Confederate leaders attacked the Freedmen's Bureau because they said that the Bureau was organizing or turning the free slaves again their former masters. These attacks show that no matter what the Emmancipation Proclamation or any other documents said, some Southerners still didn't want to give slaves their rights and freedoms that they deserved. This kind of racism shows the difference between the North and the South's views on slavery. Much of the racism during the Civil War was still going on a hundred years after the war and has just now in the past few decades been resolved.
here's my source which is the best info I could get:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedman%27s_Bureau
Thirteenth - Fifteenth Constitutional Amedments
ReplyDeleteThe thirteenth amendment was to outlaw slavery over entire U.S. It also gave congress the right to enforce that law. Which ment punishment for the lawbreakers.
The fourteenth amendment covered severaol things ... SECTION 1 Anyone born or already in the U.S. were made American citizens. ( This included blacks ) Since they were U.S. citizens no one could deprive them of the right to life, property, liberty, and protection. ... SECTION 2 All male American citizens over the age of 21 were given the right to vote. Including all black males...
SECTION 3 Anyone who wanted to become a member of congress, state legislature, senator, president, vice president, or really anyone who wanted to hold pretty much any political office could not have not have participated in any war or rebellion or aided anyone in rebellion. These were the requirements to hold office and it was mostly to keep southerners out of power... SECTION 4 The U.S. was free of any debts that were acquired during a rebellion or war against U.S. They did not have to claim the loss of slaves during emancipation... SECTION 5 Congress had the power to enforce these laws by proper legislation.
The fifteenth amendment ... SECTION 1 No male was to be denied the right to vote no matter what race, color or any other reason... SECTION 2 Congress had the power to enforce these laws with proper legislation.
My source is ... http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0749825.html
ReplyDeleteArlington National Cemetery
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to Washington D.C. three summers ago, I really wanted to go to the Arlington Cemetery. I had read about it in several books, seen it in movies, and seen many pictures of it. Sadly, I did't get to go. I was bummed out.
Arlington is truly a massive cemetery: over 300,000 people are buried there, and it covers an area of nearly 625. And they are from many different wars the U.S. has been involved in: the Civil War, World War II, the Korean War, right up to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Arlington was originally an estate owned, ironically, by Robert E. Lee. During the Civil War, his wife lived at the house. After the War ended, the Union decided to use the vast amount of land at Lee's estate as a Union Graveyard.
Today, Arlington is divided into 70 different burial sections. Some of the burial grounds include nurses, slaves, soldiers and politicians. It is also home to the famous: "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier".
Arlington is truly one of the most significant historical locations in the United States of America. Soldiers, patriots, politicians, and heros of this great nation are buried there from all periods of time. Over 300,000 deceased heros who dedicated their lives to serving this great nation, and we are in a great debt to them.
Maxwell, great essay. I had no idea that the Freedman's Bureau even existed, let alone what it did. I can understand why it was formed, family members of black families being sold to all parts of the country. I can imagine that this really meant alot to the freed slaves, I can't imagine a worse feeling that being separated from your family. And I'm glad you said that last part, even today racism still exists in the South. We even hear it here in good ol' Kentucky. Sad, but true.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job maxwell
J Byrd, I also liked your essay. I had heard the term "Carpetbagger" before, but never really have fully understood what it meant. I thought they would be sort of like a hobo haha, not entrepreneurs who sought to take advantage of a poor Southern economy in order to make a profit. I can imagine how a little amount of money can buy a TON of things in an economy such as the South's after the war.
ReplyDeleteNice work J Byrd
Akers, I used http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetary
ReplyDeleteOh, and leftyshooter16 is Sam Wier.
ReplyDeletePost-Civil War Amendments and Dealing with Freed Slaves
ReplyDeleteThe Civil War is over, and the disputes tied into it are “resolved.” (Not really) Slavery-one of the most debated and well-known Civil War issues-has been declared unconstitutional by the 13th amendment. The new problem is that four million uneducated, incompetent, and empty-handed slaves have been pushed out of their “homes” and given nothing to start their lives as free men. These men have no legal rights, no place in society; they have no homes, no money, no food, nothing. So what is going to happen?
First, the government recognizes in order for freed slaves to start over, they must have legal rights and freedoms. So, in 1868 the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution was ratified. This was the second of what are called the “Reconstruction Amendments” (the first being the 13th which granted slaves their freedom). The fourteenth amendment granted black men citizenship and protected their civil rights. It granted them their right of life, liberty, property, etc. and insured that those rights would not be removed without due process of law.
The struggle with this amendment was expected-most Southern states refused to ratify the amendment and passing it through legislation was stalled. Due to radical Republicans (Benjamin Butler, Charles Sumner, etc.) pushing the amendment it was finally ratified and is now a part of our Constitution.
The fifteenth amendment took African-American (and other minority) liberties one step further by granting them the right to vote in elections. Other than women, everyone in the nation regardless of race, color, or previous status in society was now able to vote. Although this amendment stated there would be no racial discrimination in voting, the effects of it were not fully realized for many years. The South found ways, using poll taxes and literacy tests, to deny African-Americans their voting privileges. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 turned amendment fifteen into a more firm and concrete law.
The Post-Civil War era was one of the most challenging times in America’s history. Between dealing with freed slaves, a crumbling economy, mass death, and a separated Union, the government had a lot on its plate. Some individuals did a horrible job in the reconstruction of the United States, while others did just the opposite. Passing the 13th-15th amendments was an extremely difficult task, but because of the individuals who worked hard it happened.
13th amendment – Slavery was a large part of the southern economy in the 1800's. South relied on them to do all the work in the fields. Slavery was not as popular and important in the North compared to the south, but it wasn't unknown. Congress prohibited the slave trade in 1808 and by the 1830's, slavery was abolished in the North. In the early years of the Civil War, Congress approved a bill to abolish slavery in the entire US. It wasn't until after the war, on December 6, 1865, that the bill became ratified and put into affect 309 days after it was proposed on January 31, 1865.
ReplyDelete14th amendment – This amendment was a great leap in the abolition and freedom of slaves. This amendment gave all former salves US citizenship and stated they would have all the rights and privileges of any other citizen. It also stated that anyone born in the US was a US citizen and would never be deprived of their right without due process of law. It also deprived the chance of any previous confederate of holding any sort of political office unless overturned by a 2/3 vote of each House. This bill was ratified on July 9, 1868.
15th amendment – This amendment protected the right of citizens, specifically newly freed slaves, to be able to vote, regardless of their race, color or history as as a slave. However, many states and local polls found ways or loopholes in the bill to prevent slaves from voting. Some of the ways they did this was place poll taxes to prevent the poor from voting, most of which were black. As well as illiteracy and property qualifications, voting was hard for your average freed slave. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed which banned the poll tax, along with the 15th and 24th amendment, that blacks were finally able to freely vote. This bill was ratified on on February 3, 1870.
“Carpetbaggers”-haha, this one stood out to me mostly because of its name. It sounds like a demeaning nickname, doesn’t it? Well, in a way, it sort of was. “Carpetbaggers” were northerners who moved south to usually to seek power or for profit. From what I’ve said so far, it may sound like it’s no wonder that it was said of them to be just a bunch of “unwelcome strangers coming, with no more property than he could carry in a satchel, to dominate a region against the wishes of its inhabitants.” So “carpetbaggers” came from the fact that they carried big ol’ carpetbags they had put all of their possessions in! However, on the contrary to the somewhat negativity some gave them, I’ve also seen in my researching that many of them truly did want to help the South get back on its feet. Apparently, it was the Union government’s duty after the Civil War ended in April 1865, to help re-join the rebelling states back into the Union. So a couple of the goals that the carpetbaggers had were: to gain power in the old Confederacy, to profit from growing and expanding business, and to help the blacks get the rights they deserved. In my opinion, this job must not have been the easiest. I mean, reconstructing after a war must be hard enough, but I’m sure there must have had to be some tension still left there between the old Confederacy and the Union left, even though the fighting had stopped. They sound to me like they were just power and money-hungry politicians, but the “carpetbaggers” really did play a role in the reconstruction after the war, and I give them props for that.
ReplyDeleteThis is a website I used from google, Mr Akers
ReplyDeletehttp://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/HTALLANT/COURSES/his312/jcoleman/front.htm
im doing mine on the 13th-15th amendments.
ReplyDeletesources: http://www.cleverley.org/areopagus/docs/usconst/usamend3.html
Amendment XIII (1865)
my response: i can see following the war the need for this amendment being the recent freeing of the slaves and now need for their safty. i see the obvious point from the northern perspective, in the amendment, though short, it makes a large statement when it says someone shall not be forced to labor unless the person has been duly convicted of a crime. this is huge because i could easily see from the southern perspective how coruption could result in theese new amendments in that they would possibly "bend the rules slightly" and result in unfare treatment of the slaves still and allow nearly a form of slavery result, this amendment though could still in some cases be disobeyed, seems to limit and set up some legal rights for freed blacks in the south.
Amendment XIV:
My response: this amendment i think takes the cake between the three others. this is veryt up front and straight forward. it starts off with a bang giving literally born slaves in the south citizenship, i can clearly see the obvious reason and see how the southern loyalists who still hold their values and ideas on slavery would avidly disagree with such an amendment. then it directly adresses voting. then the kicker is in section 3. it basically says if u were a part of the csa or any other rebellion against the usa u are not allowed to hold civil or military office. this insures northern and usa loyal people will be holding office (with the exception of Johnson from tennessee). this would have obviously delighted the northerners and completely dissatisfied the southerners. then the last section voids all debts which again would i assume be a relief for northern states who did not want the burden of debt that resulted in the utter destruction of much of the south and the cost that would result from the slaves set free in the south. then to end the amendment congress kinda puts one right in the eye of the south and basically says if u dont listen we have total power to enforce such laws.
Amendment XV:
my response: man this article is a close second between the three, this is ground breaking and revolutionary. this amendment allowed every male that fit into the catorization that was outlined in amendment XIV the right to vote no matter his RACE, Color, or previous servitude. this was huge and more than likely was loved by the former abolitionists in the north and obviously would infuriate the racest southern citizens. this esentually put every eligable black man on the same level as every eligable white man, which would have been hardly concievable 10 years earlier.
madyson, i think ur emphasis was totally on the money. this awful bloody war was now over and there were slaves that were now free and the situation needed the most delicut care and considerate. i agree that these amendments were totally necessary and that are esential for the forming of our country specifically the civil rights. i think ur point about the refusal of the southern states to radify these amendments is very important to remember when looking at wat they said and stood for and who stood for them and who opposed them. ur essay brings out some very thoughtful and important points about the post civil war period and are very very good.
ReplyDeletecolby, u chose a very interesting topic. i didnt know exactly what it was when i was reading the list we could choose from and i think its totally intereseting and quite important. im glad u did your essay on it. when you lok at it, the points you bring out about who the different sides where that were either opposed or in favor of the act. it shows the philosophies and the dificulties that resulted from the diferences in views of people then and in america for another 100 yrs.
ReplyDeleteOops, forget sources.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usconstitution.net/constamnotes.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/802055/overview_of_the_13th_14th_and_15th.html?cat=37
So J-Bird, even though you and I picked the same topic, I have to say I like the way you wrote yours after reading it. I like how you included the info about the carpetbaggers forming alliances with the scalawags who were white southerners who wanted to help reconstruct the south. That’s something I left off. I also like how you defined exactly what carpetbags were made of. I also didn’t realize that some of the carpetbaggers were wealthy middle class men who would hire black slaves to work in their big plantations. That does seem pretty selfish, but clever for them I suppose. But I guess people don’t always make history by doing right, noble things. The South’s economy must’ve been pretty bad if everything ran so cheaply. Atleast some people in the north were truly for helping and making amends after the Civil War.
ReplyDeleteColby, I thought your essay was very interesting. Even though I have heard before what the 13-15th ammendments were, the way you explained them was very clear. I didn't know that the 15th ammendment didn't really give newly freed slaves or blacks all of the rights to really vote freely until the 24th ammenment was added as well. I guess that's true that voting would be hard for a newly freed slave who was illiterate and didn't meet all the property qualifications. That doesn't mean they weren't smart enough to make their own decisions about politics though, which is why I'm glad that bill was finally passed. also, after reading what you wrote about the 13th ammendment, I can see why it must have been a big change for previous slave owners who relied on thier slaves to do all the fields. It took forever for slavery to be abolished but I'm glad that it finally was.
ReplyDeleteGood essay Jaykub. I never new that Arlington National Cemetery was actually placed around General Robert E. Lee's house just to spite him. I do agree that Arlington today has produced more good than what it originally was intended for. I've actually been to Arlington and the feeling that you get from just seeing all of the graves is amazing. I just couldn't believe that I was standing around so many great people that had did so many amazing things. Arlington is truely an honorable place for America's fallen soldiers and Presidents, yet it can be a sad place for the many families. Good Job
ReplyDeleteJ Byrd, when I first saw carpetbaggers on the list of topics, I thought what on earth is a carpetbagger. Then when I read your essay I found out that they were northerners who moved south to take advantage of the South's horrible economy, but where they got their name was from the large carpetbags they used to carry their belongings. Interesting essay J Byrd. Good Job
ReplyDeleteThe Freedmans Bureau
ReplyDeleteThe Freedman's Bureau Bill was conjured by Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865, thus establishing the Freedman's Bureau. The purpose of the Bureau was to give the newly freed slaves Education, heathcare, and a job. Ultimately, the purpose of the bureau was to help reconstruct the nation after a terrible way, and to hopefully give blacks the foundation they needed to be able to sustain themselves until society embraced them as citizens, and wasn't just being forced to by law.
Ok now for the other side of the topic. As far as I know, the only people that opposed the Freedman's Bureau were racist towards blacks. Today, of course,we know that is foolish and primitive thinking. However, there were several reasons why the sudden release of blacks hurt America as a nation. 1st, the southern economy was absolutely dependent of the free-labor they provided. The southern economy CRASHED afterwords. 2nd, all the free people made a huge demand for jobs that couldn't be supplied. 3rd, life was actually harder for the blacks living as free people. They had to provide their own shelter, food, employment, medical care, etc. All of those things were provided before. Slave owners didn't want to employ slaves, and if they did, they were harsh at best. Freedom is never easy.
Anyway, that was my essay. It was a really bad situation, but America was in too deep. It IS wrong to own another human being, but when you let them all go, poverty ensues. Of course, the best solution would to have been to never have depended on slaves in the first place, but we had already made that mistake. I can't say in the situation that I could've came up with a better answer. It was one of those "just doing the best we can" scenarios.
These are all my own ideas and concepts. I did search to see if I was thinking factually, but everything you read came straight out of my head. :D
Just imagine it. The war is over and everywhere you look, people are tired and weary. Everyone is looking forward to just a bit of normalcy, but it’s not there. They are going to have to work to build everyone’s moral and lives. “Carpetbaggers” were such people who longed just to make any kind of opportunity from this disastrous war. First of all, a carpetbag was one of the first suitcases, made from pieces of carpet. They were cheap to make and people who were seen carrying them were understood to be travelers. These “carpetbaggers” were what the people carrying the bags were called. They were Northerners moving to the South looking for opportunity and ways to build their lives back up. Even though they had defeated the South, the North was poor and needed money. Both sides had different views on “carpetbaggers.”
ReplyDeleteThe North’s View
The North had won. They were victorious, but the war had also taken much from them. Aside from the many lives lost, money had become hard to hold onto. The North needed somewhere to go, and even though the viewed the South as defeated, they moved south taking advantage of the financial situations they could have there. They saw it as somewhere to go, they looked at the opportunity, they needed help, but the South didn’t quite see it that way.
The South’s View
Yes, the South had just been defeated by the North. They were defeated, but had more privilege there. Their financial status was better than the North, and when the Northerners started moving south, it was not appreciated. The South saw these people as traitors. They saw them taking advantage and were not appreciative. Also they saw the political influences. The slaves supported the carpetbaggers, but the rest of the South did not like the North interfering with their politics (elections).
So yes, we can see both sides. The war was terrible, but now we have the aftermath of the devastating fight. What side do you agree with? Now that both are presented, who do you believe was justified?
-http://www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
-http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/
A0810564.html
Wow, Jacob. I never knew that Arlington National Cemetery was built for that reason. We are always trying to keep others from doing wrong, that’s what laws are for, but this whole situation turned out alright. Even though Meigs was doing this to upset and tear down, something great came of it. You have to wander what he would say if he were able to see what his massive burial has come to today. A great remembrance of what happened, all because he wanted to get back at the South. It’s amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe Freedman's Bureau was set up during The Civil War to assist freed slaves. The Bureau gave many advantages to the freed slaves of the southern states such as food, shelter, clothing, work, and education. The Bureau opened 4,000 schools and educated 250,000 black people. The Freedman's Bureau obviously had a positive impact on American society because by 1870, 21% of African Americans were able to read.
ReplyDeleteOn March 3, 1865, Congress established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. (More commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau.) In 1866 the Bureau was shut down because of a veto by Andrew Johnson, however, Congress extended the life of the program and it is still in existence today. The original intentions were to provide food and medical care, help freedmen resettle, make sure justice is present, manage abandoned or confiscated property, regulate labor, and to establish schools. The Bureau suceded to accomplish many of these but came up short with others like providing land to the freed men.
The Freedman's Bureau fought to create equality for the blacks and save them form descrimination and harm that they may receive from groups like The Klu Klux Klan. The Freedman’s bureau served as a basis for modern government with equal rights to all citizens and not just the white males.
Cody, I think one thing you said was really interesting to think about. You mentioned how the North viewed the South as conquered enemies. Can you imagine that happening today? If half of the United States decided to fight the other half, would we consider the losing half “conquered enemies”? Even though the North and South had their extreme differences, they were once united. It’s hard to imagine something once so founded breaking and falling apart like it did.
ReplyDeleteMy Resources:
ReplyDeleteafroamhistory.about.com/cs/.../a/freedmensbureau.htm...and...www.history.umd.edu/Freedmen/fbact.htm.
Emily, I liked your points about how each side justified themsleves. In our minds today we just kind of think slavery and immediately gasp at the thought, but then it was a natural part of their culture. They went to war for their cause and like you said, viewed the north as major traitors. The north looked at the south as almost someone to take advantage of. They were way in debt and... since we were one union again... they needed the south to help.
And Morgan, I didn't know that there were so many sections to the fourteenth ammendment. Especially the things like voting age at 21, giving citizenship to anyone born in the United States (more than just blacks, etc.), and that people who had participated in the rebellion couldn't be in government offices.
I chose to do mine on the Civil War Amendments. And I used WikiAnswers and Wikipedia as my references.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil War amendments were also known as the “ progressive era amendments” like the lovely video Mr. Akers left for us today so wonderfully pointed out. They were passed between 1865 and 1870.
THE 13th Amendment says exactly this:
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
--I believe they had to make this law because even though war was over and the Union had won they needed to clarify it so that in the future if those prejudices did still exist (which they did) the freed slaves would not be pressed into their former condition.
THE 14th Amendment:
-- This Amendment was to keep the blacks in both the south and the north safe because after the war was over there were several out breaks against the blacks. Such as the KKK and several accounts of lynch mobs hanging many blacks regardless if they did what the accusers said or not. Also there were many corrupt bureaucrats in control of the Southern state which allowed these things to occur. Another was that black males from 21 years and older were not able to vote or their votes were not counted because of the legislative system in that state.
And the 4th section elucidates that the former slave owners will not be compensated for emancipated or loss of slaves.
THE 15th Amendment says exactly this:
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
-- Well this one pretty much explains itself. It’s expounding on the rights spelled out I the first two amendments mentioned.
Anna your essay was really good. In all the movies that I've watched that have had carpetbaggers in them I couldn't wait for them to get off the screen. I mean, to me, the just ooze corruption. And yes, the southerners did treat the blacks wrong but that doesn’t mean to mistreat any of them. But the fact the helped the South get back on their feet and helped the slaves get to their feet makes me like them a lot better.
ReplyDeleteMorgan what you said was good. Think that it’s sad that they had to make three amendments just to get points across that were mentioned in the fourteenth amendment. But regardless of that they were used during the Civil Rights Movement by many people that wanted to help with the cause. So good job.
ReplyDeleteAnd I need to make this a little longer so I hope that the Volleyball tournament goes well on Saturday and that you bring home a trophy.
In the 1840's and 1850's the expansion of railroads made it easier for ordinary people to travel in large numbers. People needed cheap luggage so thousands of suitcases were made. Saddle makers in many of the towns and cities would find old carpets and buy them. They would then take the pieces of carpet that were not completely worn out and construct luggage from it. The carpet bags sold in Dry Goods for $1 to $2.
ReplyDeleteBy the 1860's carpetbags were used by most of the population in the U.S. When you would travel during the Civil War, clear through to 1870, you packed your carpetbag. When you saw someone carrying a carpetbag you were able to identify an outsider (traveler).
During the Reconstruction Period after the Civil War (1865-1870), people from the Northern States traveled to Southern States in order to make money. The South was very poor and so there were many opportunities for a person to do very well for themselves with just a little money. You could own a farm by just paying the past due taxes for $25.00. Human nature being what it is, has always tried to figure out a way to "make a fast buck", and without a strong conscience and convictions would try to take advantage of people in desperate need. All the "outsiders" (identified by their carpetbags) were called Carpetbaggers. In the south it came to mean a person with an agenda for themselves, an outsider not to be trusted. The worse carpetbaggers were the politicians who used their positions in the Reconstruction Government to pad their pockets and gain for themselves at the expense of Southerners.
Carpetbaggers
ReplyDeleteCarpetbaggers were basically people who went to the south as it was re-developing and trying to get their economy where it should be people from the North moved to the South. They then began to buy up "shares" or basically the whole of the farm and pay them next to nothing to earn money and profit off of their work. Basically the North destroyed the South in every way imaginable and then proceeded to take advantage of them by doing this. Some of them were dshonest and unloyal scoundrels took advantage of the South in a way no honest man should. The name carpetbagger was taken from the item that was made called a carpetbag. A carpetbagis just as the name makes it out to be it is a bag made out of slightly used carpet. that almost everyone had to carry their items around men and women alike used these. This was also a way to tell if they were outsiders.
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/scalawag.htm
www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
Well I decided to write about the Reconstruction era and Carpetbaggers. The reconstruction ear was afeter the Civil War, during this era the South was in turmoil, politically, socially, and economically. The Union came up with this Reconstruction pla in hopes to get order back in the Conferderate states because eleven of those states had seceded from the Union and during the reconstruction era, 1865 to 1877, their were Northerners that had moved to the South because it was so poor where they were. The Southerners called these Northerners Carpeetbaggers because when they arrived they had their carpet bags which contained some of their belongings. But these Carpetbaggers formed an alliance with freed slaves and even some Southerners who supported the reconstruction. They called the freed slaves freedmen and the southerners that supported the reconstruction they called scalawags. The southerners figured the carpetbaggers were going to steal from the defeated South. They were genuinely interested in helping the former slaves and in doing so they became a big target for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
ReplyDeleteHere are the sites i used to get my info. Akers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetbagger
ReplyDeletehttp://afroamhistory.about.com/cs/reconstruction/a/reconstruction.htm
http://www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
The Arlington National Cemetery
ReplyDeleteThe Arlington National Cemetery is located in Arlington county Virginia, across the Potomic from Washington DC. The cemetery holds more than 300,000 veterans and casualties starting with the Civil War and continuing to the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is divided in 70 sections. Purchased in1864 by the government for $26,000. it was an alternative for the rapidly filling small cemeteries that surrounded the area. In 1877, Custis Lee, heir to the land sued and the Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Then, less than one year latter, Custis Lee sells the land back to the government for $150,000.
More than 3,800 former slaves called “Controbands” are buried there with headstones designated with the word “Civilian” or “Citizen”. There are also sections for the nurses that worked at the hospitals and for soldiers of the Confederate States of America..
The cemetery is also home to the famous Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers which holds three unknown soldiers from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
I think that having a cemetery dedicated to the men ad women that fight for our country is wonderful. As far as I can tell neither side had anything to say about it. Soldiers from both sides are buried there, so I don’t think that they had a problem with it.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/Visitor_information?index.htm
http://en.wikipedes.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery.htm
Carpetbagger was a term used by southerners to refer to northerners that moved to the south between 1865 and 1877 (the Reconstruction era). They formed an alliance with freed slaves and southern white republicans that supported Reconstruction. They took advantage of that coalition by controlling former Confederate states in politics for years. Of course, old-school southerners didn’t like that, no, not one bit. By the way, it makes sense that the term carpetbagger is sometimes used nowadays for a politician that runs for a political office in a region he or she hasn’t been for long or isn’t originally from.
ReplyDeleteThe southerners considered the “carpetbaggers” to basically be unfairly taking advantage of and plundering the defeated southern states. I can kind of see where they’re coming from. People from the north came and took over the political system. However, it’s a good thing that the south didn’t get certain things they desired. For example, many southerners probably wanted their slaves returned to them. I’m glad they were finally free men.
The Freedmen’s Bureau started operations in 1865 to assist free blacks and white refugees. Many of the northern abolitionists that went south to work towards racial equality became agents of the Bureau. Public schools were then established by the bureau where they had previously not existed. Other carpetbaggers came and participated in building railroads in the south where infrastructure lacked. So a lot of their involvement in the south would eventually lead to the greater good of the southern US. Many of these carpetbaggers became wealthy landowners in the south.
I hate to say it, but I used Wikipedia.
The “Reconstruction Era” refers to the time period after the Civil War in which several new amendments were made to the Constitution. The 13th amendment abolished slavery for good, and the Southern states would have to accept this amendment and revoke their secession before they could return to the Union. To speed up the process of reuniting of the North and South, Lincoln proposed the “Ten Percent Plan” which said that only ten percent of the state population would have to pledge allegiance for that state to be re-admitted into the Union. The Radical Republicans opposed it and presented their “Wade- Davis” bill which required a majority of the state population to take the “Ironclad Oath” that they had never supported the Confederacy. Lincoln vetoed this bill and the Ten Percent plan went into effect in most states, but the military controlled most of the South for many years.
ReplyDeleteSites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_era_of_the_United_States
I liked what Jakob said. I did not know that Arlington Cemetery was created to annoy Robert E. Lee. It sounds like a selfish reason to burry a bunch of people in a respectably manor. It shows what lengths people will go to just for revenge. I cannot say that I approve of Robert E. Lee’s ideas, but I do have some respect for him. I do not believe that you should take someone’s land like that and build a cemetery over it.
ReplyDeleteCivil War Amendments
ReplyDeleteAmendment 13: This amendment made slavery illegal in the United Sates. It gave congress the power to enforce this amendment. The goverment could however give involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime, when the person(s) has been convicted only.
Amendment 14: This gave African Americans thair freedom and rights. It said that no State could deprive any person of their life, liberty, or their property. This ment that the government of any state could not take your life or any of your property without justification; they couldn't just come to your house and take your car or house from you. It also said the Representatives (example: members of Congress or candidates for presidency) cannot be convicted of a crime in his/her lifetime.
Amendment 15: This amendment gave African Americans (that were male) the right to vote. It stated that, the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
I agree with josh. We had just defeated the South in a war and now we were sending people to control their governments. If I was a southern I would be upset to. I think some of the reconstruction acts was a little extreme, but it worked so I am not going to argue with a proven method. There was probable a better way, but there is always a better way, we just do not know it. Even though Wikipedia is unreliable, it is very convenient. Most websites just give you tiny bits of information but this is not the case with Wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil War Amendments
ReplyDeleteThe civil war amendments were the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments to the constitution all which had to do with blacks and freedoms they were given. The Thirteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1865. It officially made slavery illegal everywhere in the United States. The Emancipation did not officially end slavery, everywhere, the thirteenth amendment did. The fourteenth amendment was added to the constitution in 1868. Sometimes called the “Great Amendment”, it protected the rights of freed slaves. It stated that anyone born in the United States, including blacks, were citizens with the same rights as anyone else. Although it was passed, many blacks still did not have the same rights, such as the right to vote. The fifteenth amendment was added to the constitution in 1870. It finally gave blacks the right to vote. It also prohibited national and state governments from refusing citizens the right to vote for any reason such as race. After it was passed, many slaves voted and used this to gain political power. The civil war amendments are a significant part of our nations past that endure to give people of any race civil rights.
Arlington National Cemetery
ReplyDeleteArlington National Cemetery is now considered one of America's most "sacred" and respected burial sites. However, it wasn't always considered to be such. It's beginnings as a cemetery were actually quite humble. One particular historian stated that there were only two types of soldiers that were buried there: the ones who were unknown and the ones whose families did not posses the money to have them sent back to their home states for burial. The southern soldiers buried there were generally the ones who had died in nearby hospitals from war injuries. The northern soldiers were gathered together from nearby battlefields such as Bull Run and placed in their final resting places.
Back in the Civil War times an perhaps in the time right after the end of the Civil War, imagine the opinions of each side about this cemetery.
The North, possibly, would've seen it as an accomplishment.Soldiers from both sides of a once divided country would now rest eternally together in peace and unity. A beautiful thing they might would've felt.
However, the South, still a little sore from their recent loss, would've probably been livid about the arrangement. I mean, really. Think about it. The people who we killed and who literally slaughtered our soldiers as well, we have to be BURIED with them?! If I were a surviving soldier from the Confederacy, I would've probably been very angry that men that I fought with AGAINST the Union, my friends, were now forever buried with their enemies.
So my purpose of this essay was to not pick a side, but be objective and simply give an honest opinion of how each side might have initially felt about Arlington National Cemetery.
Regardless of how it all started, like I said earlier, it is now one our most sacred and respected burial places. It's quite a landmark. I regretfully say that I have not been there myself, but I would truly love to go there soon.
Here is my source for the facts in this essay:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/vetday99.htm
After the civil war many homes were destroyed, not to mention businesses and families. Thus after the war "Carpet Bags" were invented, one of the first types of suit cases. These bags were made out of scraps of carpets that weren’t worn out and contained every piece of belonging to the person who carried it. They were easy to make and cheap. The people who carried them were northerners who were homeless and traveling from the North to the South. Even though they defeated the south they still traveled there looking for jobs. Both the south and the north had views on this,
ReplyDeleteThe North,
After the war they had nowhere to go, and no opportunities of making money. They were not financially stable, so they viewed the south as a new beginning and went for it. They packed everything they could in a carpet bag, and headed for the land that they just defeated in war.
The South,
The South had a little bit different view then the northerners. They viewed the carpet baggers as outcasts and traitors, the only people who supported them were the slaves.
I Don't know which side I would be on, I’m just gracious that I was born in this period. First the north and the south were the same country and I could say that I don’t see why they looked down on the northerners who moved south but I do. They didn’t want to be a part of them until they saw that there financial situation was better then theirs. But all I can say is that we should always forgive, because no matter what were still a country. Like a family, we will always be a part of each other.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0810564.html
http://www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
leftyshooter16 ,
ReplyDeleteYour essay was really good, i Liked it.
I have heard about the cemetary but i had no idea there was that meny people burried there. Kudos. (:
Biggin, I really liked your essay on carpetbaggers, I can tell that you did a lot of work on it. You did a great job of defining exactly what carpetbaggers were.
ReplyDeleteEveryone did a great job on this subject. I have to admit it’s the most interesting topic we had to chose from.
Vanessa, you put a lot of stuff in your essay that I left out. I couldn’t figure out how to tell what each side might have been thinking, but you put it exactly how I would have. Ok, maybe not exactly, but pretty darn close. And I would LOVE to go with you to visit the cemetery;)
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ReplyDeleteMarch 3, 1865, the then War Department, established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, or more commonly known as, the Freedmen’s Bureau. The purpose of this organization was to help the now free men get onto their feet as American citizens. This job was difficult to carry out, however. The Bureau had to supply clothing, food, and medicine right at the end of the Civil War to many of the former slaves, but that was the simple part. Next, they got ownership of all confiscated property in basically the whole U.S. They also had to help with education and jobs of freed slaves, this meant finding jobs for men who had no skill except farming and no education. Many slaves had to go back to working on farms, and, like we covered in class, many were not treated as well as before because the former slaves meant less to the white plantation owner. The Freedmen’s Bureau also set up 4,000 schools for the children to attend. To help tend to ongoing medical needs they also managed to set up 100 hospitals.
ReplyDeleteThe Bureau had originally been intended to only last for a year but instead lasted from 1865 to 1868. Quite often a lack of military back up and red tape caused them to have trouble being efficient in their work. Many Southerners didn’t like the Freedman’s Bureau and went so far as to kill the workers, but others less drastically opposed it with posters that say things like, “The Freedman's Bureau! An agency to keep the Negro in idleness at the expense of the white man. Twice vetoed by the President (Johnson, at that time), and made a law by Congress. Support Congress & you support the Negro. Sustain the President & you protect the white man.” Most of the supporters of The Bureau were the, so called, “radical” Republicans. This was the same group who pushed for freedom for slaves, thought Lincoln was too lenient with his reconstruction plan and eventually took control of the Congress and took power away from Johnson. Both sides outwardly disliked the other and caused a lot of conflict in the U.S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Refugees,_Freedmen_and_Abandoned_Lands
http://www.freedmensbureau.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Republicans
Jarred I liked your esay on the Freedmon's Bureau. I think it was very hard to understand the atmospher after the Civil War. People can write about it, but it's hard to understand what really happened.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine trying to figure out the problem of providing education, medical attention, helping people to resettle and providing food. There was nothing that they could use in American history as an example that could show them what to do. On top of all of this, they had to fool with people involved with the Klu Kux Klan. It was a difficult problme to solve.
Hannah, thank you for reminding me how special Arlington National Cemetery is. I remember the cherry blossoms. They are so beautiful in the Spring. I so respect the soldiers that guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. They will stand guard during hurricanes and on the day of 911, they were prepared to defend the tomb to their death.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of a place that is sacred for soldiers, no matter race, freed, male or female, represents what America really is.
my site is:
http://www.thecarpetbagger.com/history.htm
John Byrd, you did a good job of thoroughly explaining everything important about carpetbaggers. You defined them and what they did, why they did it and how they did it. You even explained how they got the name “carpetbaggers”. Your essay being the first piece of information I’ve heard about carpetbaggers, I would say you did a good job of informing someone who has not heard about your topic.
ReplyDeleteCharity, although I am not sure what you think is a carpetbagger and what I think is a carpetbagger is quite the same, you say we should “forgive” them, implying what they did was wrong. What they did was not wrong; it was simply some people who saw a good business opportunity in the south. And I am not completely sure of this, but I would say carpetbaggers helped the south’s very weak economy. They gave people jobs on new plantations they bought, along with the products the plantations produced.
ReplyDeleteI'm commenting on Cody's post. I really enjoyed it for several reasons. First off I really liked how he emphasized on how the Reconstruction Acts were a punishments of sorts for the South. Even though no one wanted to call it that, they all knew that was what the bill was about, and all passed it by a landslide. Next, I liked how Cody mentioned how Andrew Jackson actually vetoed the bill. This is the first time, to my knowledge, of Andrew Jackson showing absolutely ANY compassion whatsoever for another living, breathing human being or group of human beings other than himself. I would call it very significant for such a bone-head to show care for others.
ReplyDeleteI also liked Josh's essay about carpetbaggers. I had heard the term before, and vaguely remembered what it meant, but he put a knew spin on things. I think the South's perspective on the carpetbaggers was fascinating, but it makes sense. They saw them for what they really were, a bunch of opportunists taking advantage of another states misfortune.
ReplyDeleteCaleb, I liked how straight forward you were, it made it easy to read but you still pointed out lots of things I didn’t know. I didn’t know little odd things like the President and Vice President couldn’t be from the same state I guess to them that was more important than it is to us. We can share views with anyone in any state now that issues are so much more party oriented.
ReplyDeleteJaykub, I think it’s interesting how Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs purposely set up a cemetery to make Lee’s house unlivable. That’s something that is often overlooked when we talk about this great cemetery. It’s ironic too how much of a symbol and respected place that Arlington became. And, Hannah, you talked about another piece of trivia about Arlington that I didn’t know. I think it’s interesting that Custis Lee had the audacity(good word) enough to sue for the land just to sell it back.
Jarred, I enjoyed reading your essay and I'm glad you wrote it. I had no idea what the Freedman's Bureau was before I read your essay, but I can tell it did good things for America and African Americans. Education and medical care is important, no matter who you are so what they did is definitely a good thing.
ReplyDeleteSam, cool essay. I want to go to the Arlington Cemetery too, but I haven't been able to go yet either. It sounds pretty cool, especially since it has a lot of historical background with all the people buried there and the fact that the land was owned by Robert E. Lee. Definitely a place I want to go to soon!
ReplyDeleteakers..
ReplyDeletei forgot to put my sources up.
www.cleverley.org/areopagus/docs/usconst/usamend3.html
Don't Know Much About History-Kenneth Davis
www.blackpast.org/?q=primary/reconstruction-amendments
Emily, You presented both sides of this situation very well. It seems to me that both the North and the South were justified in what they thought. I can understand how the North feels; they’ve lost their families in this war and are broken and need help, but at their only opportunity to start over, the South rejects them. The South on the other hand just fought a brutal war with the Northerners who are now “trespassing” into their land.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteYour essay was interesting and full of info. I honestly didn't know what the FMB was exactly. The thing that i guess i pulled from it was that there were many people who were willing to and wanted to help. It definately doesnt downplay the Civil War in any way, but it is reassuring to know that not everything was bad.
David, your essay about the Freedman’s Bureau was very good. I can tell you put effort into it because it was very informative. I knew most southerners didn’t like it, but I never realized that some went as far as to kill people involved with the bureau. I liked how you pointed out the big difference between Congress and President Johnson. If you supported the Bureau, you supported the Negro (Johnson-white man). The Bureau was a pretty radical group.
ReplyDeleteHannah:
ReplyDeleteI did not know that black slaves are buried in Arlington, and I've been there. Pretty sad, huh? And I also didn't know nurses were there. That's interesting.
Vanessa:
I like how you did some research on the beginnings of Arlington, and how you decribed it as humble. It's actually sad that it once was that way, and that those buried there were unkown. I'm glad today it's a respected place for those who have served our country faithfully to be buried.
Caleben, good essay. It was informative and to the point. I thought it was good. You breifly summarized the twelth, thirteenth, and fourteenth ammendments. I very vaguely already knew them, but I didnt know the numbers or orders, or exactly the effects of them. They were three important ammendments, especially with the whole outlawing of slavery and the giving freedom to african americans. I would have typed mine up on the subject of the ammendments, but you had already done that one, so I went with the strangely named topic.
ReplyDeleteLefty shooter, even though I don’t know who you are, you had a cool post. I didn’t know too much about the Arlington National Cemetery before I read your post. I now know that it has a whole lot of dead people there. It sounds like a pretty big cemetery. Your essay told me some stuff about the Arlington National Cemetery.
ReplyDeleteJosh,
ReplyDeleteThe south looked down on the carpet baggers and didn’t like them. What I meant by forgiving the northerners who were carpet baggers, well here it is.
I just might be a very forgiving person but the south (except for the slaves) didn't support them. Picture this, the South after the war, defeated, and the northerners moving to there land looking for business opportunities, taking advantage of anything they can. But I don’t know, they just needed to forgive each other, and I know that sounds hippy-ishh, but we can’t get by without that. Whatever I just might rambling on and can’t find the right words about what I’m thinking but the south needed to forgive the north for not letting them be there own nation and the north needed to forgive the south for trying to leave them.
Hannah’s essay about the Arlington National Cemetery was really good. I never realized how significant it is. A lot of people are buried there. I didn’t know it held that many veterans and former slaves. That definitely would be an incredible place to visit. Also, I think that is quite interesting that after suing for it, Custis Lee sold the land back to the government soon after.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletevannessa I agree with what you said about the soilders being buried with their enemies. I would have been angry too if I been one of those surviving soldiers. I couldn't imagine having to deal with all of that. I mean just think about how the family and friends felt Wow, That had to be so hard to deal with
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJAnderson94,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your essay because you told both sides of the picture well. Yes, from today’s viewpoint, it’s hard to imagine negatives to blacks being free. It’s their God given right. I was glad to learn about this Freedman’s Bureau and know there was actually government help for blacks who had suddenly been placed in a dramatically different world. Also, it is interesting to examine the fact that there WERE negative effects, though temporary and worth the pain, to the sudden freedom of slaves. The southern economy WOULD have been effected! Thanks for sharing this.
Emily,
As with my other response, I enjoyed the way you categorically examined both sides of the issue. I had a vague idea of what a carpetbagger was, but I hadn’t really thought about why both sides would feel the way they did. I can understand why the South would be aggravated, but I can also see how the Northerners were hard pressed for money and opportunity too. After all, it wasn’t a war that each citizen asked for. They were in a hard way too. Very nice writing, as always, Emily. Informative and helpful. Thanks!!!
I am going to write about this "Reconstruction Era". It all really started with Lincoln wanting fast re admition of the southern states. so to do this he set up the ten percent plan, where only 10% of a state would have to agree with being readmitted to the Union. The After Lincolns death Johnson set up for reconstruction this is were the North would send money and supplies to help rebuild the South. And we passed the 13th amendment where this permanently set slaves free in all states. The 14th amendment was to protect the rights of former slaves, ect... and also stated the if you are born in America you are an American Citizen. The 15th amendment gave the right to males to vote no matter their race, or if you are a former Confederate.
ReplyDeleteEven with all these new amendment being made there is still a lot of segregation toward black. It was hard for them to get a job and to get certain privileges in society.
yea Emily I liked how you brought how the south saw this changes and what they all thought about and how they saw the North taking advantage of them. But the North(Most)pitied the South, But some saw them as concurred and should be punished.
ReplyDeleteI liked how Biggin posted about the carpet beggars and how you described them. You really went into some of what they were and even where they came from, good job.
ReplyDeleteThe Reconstuction Act of 1867,
ReplyDeleteIn the Reconstruction Act of 1867, a lot of determining decisions were made and put into place, and in my opinion for the better of our country. This act basically said that the south would be divided into five military districts controlled by the North, it required congressional approval for new states to become part of the U.S. again, confederate states were given voting rights to ALL men, and all former confederate states must ratify the fourteenth amendment. In the minds of those who favored Pesidents Lincoln and Johnson, This was a great decision. For a reminder they favored restoring the southern states and giving all but the slaves their right back once they pledged an oath of obedience back to the North. All the laws of this act stated exactly what they wanted. On the other hand, for those who despised johnson and wanted the south to be conquered enemies of the south this was a terrible idea. In my opinion, this was a great idea because it helped reastore the U.S. to what it is today after one of the worst periods of our history. Lincoln and Johnson had the best interest for our country in mind not just themselves.
Poehner,
ReplyDeleteI really like your application of the ten percent plan into your essay. That was a great plan in my opinion. Lincoln wanted things to quickly get back to normal to keep our country together. Also your descritions of all of the amendments shows the real accomplishments of Johnson. He gave blacks citizenship and the right to vote which played a major role, and a good role, in our countries history. Great essay Chris!
Dsams,
ReplyDeleteYour choice of essay subject was a good one. The Freedmen’s Bureau Is a very interesting group in itself. But they do have a very tough job. Getttin the newly freed men onto their feet couldn’t be easy for anyone. I myself didn’t know that the bureau was started before the war was over. I found that very interesting. I also didn’t know it lasted three years, I knew that in was inteded for only a year but not that it lasted longer.
I wrote mine on the Reconstruction Acts of 1867.
ReplyDeleteThe Reconstruction Acts of 1867 was brought about by a group of republicans who considered the south to be not only enemies but that they were defeated enemies. The first thing it said was that the south must be divided into 5 military districts: Virginia would be the first; North and South Carolina would be the second; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida would be the third, Arkansas and Mississippi would be the forth; and Louisiana and Texas would be the fifth. These districts would be under the control of one major general who could not be anywhere below the rank of brigadier-general. The next thing was that it gave all freed men the right to vote. This was still excluding women because at this time they had limited priviledges and rights. It also did not allow confederate leaders to vote because the north was keeping the south in complete control. Another way they tryed to control the south was by requiring that the south elect new government officials. Lastly it said that congress had to approve for new states to be able to join the U.S. They placed this before President Andrew Jackson who vetoed it but congress re-passed the bill that very same day. Andrew Jackson with much of Ulysses S. Grant's help chose the generals to rule the districts. The north was glad this bill was passed because it was basically a punishment for the south.
Jakob I like how you pointed out that Lincoln and Johnson had in mind what was best for the country and wasnt just thinking about themselves. Sometimes we wonder why president have made the decisions they have made and if they were really wanting to help the US. This is major key that all presidents have should have. They should make all their decisions in office based on the needs of our country. I mean duh they are the president that is their job so do it and do it right.
ReplyDeleteCharity I like how you said that you are glad that you were born in the time that you were born in. A lot of people including me are always saying man I wish born in this time or I wish I was born when this was going on but if you think about every time period has their own problems and issues. Doesn't mean any are more easy or hard. It kind of goes with the saying you always think the grass is greener on the other side until you get there then you realize it no different. You think it would be better or easier sometimes to live in a different time era but in reality it would only bring differnt things. We were all born when we were according to God's plan and he knows what is best for us.
ReplyDeleteBrigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs, lead his troops who were stationed at arlingtion VA and used the land there as a military cemetery on June 15, 1864. Meigs wanted to make general lees house unavailable to the ublic by creating this massive cemetery all around it.unfortunatly the first residents of this new cemetery came very quickly. After the battle of bull run 1800 union troops came to stay. The tomb created for them was placed in the rose garden and that was 20 ft. wide and 10 ft. in deep. This monument was the first of its kind created in order to show respect to the dead and to spite Robert E. Lee and the property he owned.
ReplyDeletegeneral Lee and his wife never wanted to gain their property back, maybe it was because they wanted to show respected for the dead, maybe itsbecause lee coundnt see all the men and brothers he had faught with for years thousands of them all around him. the Arlington Cemetery holds the bodies of many breave people who faught for what they believed in. And Meigs, the man who created the cemetery out of spite, actually did more good and have the dead more respect
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/arlington_house.html#top than he previously anticipated
Josh I really liked your essay. It seems apparent that the southerners hated the carpet baggers. they didn’t feel like it was any of their business to get into their politics. The Freedmen’s Bureau was very impressive. It is awesome how people went down to the south and demanted a stop to segregation. I like that the bureau started public schools in the South. Your essay was great I learned a lot that I didn’t know before. It was very interesting. Good job.
ReplyDeletevanessawyatt your essay made a very good point. I agree with you about how the Southern soldiers would have very very angree being buried next to the people who had killed their family and friends because they did not they deserved to be free. I think that the North would have seen it as an accomplishment. I agree with you that Arlington National Cemetery is one of the most respected burial sites in America because it houses so many Americans who died fighting their own brothers.your essay was really amazing and a deffinate eye opener.
ReplyDeleteThe Reconstruction Act of 1867 was brought out after the cival war due to the radical Republicans thinking of the south as a conqured enemy. The Reconstruction Act was passed March 2, 1867.The Reconstrution Act divided the South into five millitary divisions. Which were as follows: Virginia; North and South Carolina; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida; Arkansas and Mississippi; Louisiana and Texas. Each of these states or group of states was ruled by one major general.
ReplyDeleteElections in held by each state allowed everyone to vote in there division with the exception of women.
The five millitary chosen to run were hand picked by Andrew Jackson with a lot of help from Ulysses S. Grant. When first brought up TheReconstrtion acted was vetoed by President Johnson but congress re-passed the bill that same day. There was also a second Reconstrtion Act proposed to allow commenders to supervise elctions and constitue new government. The Second Reconstrition Act was also vetoed by Johnson but passed MArch 23rd of the same yeat.
JOhnson thought it interfered with the right of the American citizen to "be left to the free exercise of his own judgment when he is engaged in the work of forming the fundamental law under which he is to live." Folling the two Reconstruction Act there was a small supplementry acts that allowed commenders to register voters and head up all elctuions. By 1870 all states reunited with Union
Caleben....
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your essay on the Civil war amendments. The one I liked the best was the one on the 14th amendment on how you put that it allowed blacks there freedom and the part on how you said it couldn’t take the land from its rightful owner.
I also liked how you worded the 13th amendment on how you talked about blacks getting there freedoms and how you added that it still gives the government power to make a convicted felon do community service.
I also agree a short amendment like the 13th can be dangerous due to the fact there isn’t much the government has to work with so it enforces it very strictly.
Jessica....
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your essay on the Reconsturtion Act. We did our topic on the same thing and i liked the part about how the Northern commanders were not allowed to vote a point i left out. But you wrote a great essay
carpetbaggers played a large role in the reconstruction of the southern economy. since it was basically destroyed from the war, these "carpetbaggers" would move down south to take advantage of the ruined southern economy. when i say taking advantage of it i mean they bought cheap cheap land and used it for their own benefits. these carpetbaggers would also make "alliances" you could say with the freed black slaves. many of the carpetbaggers were union soldiers that knew the condition of the land and were satisfied with it and ended up becoming very wealthy land owners. these carpetbaggers came in and re-started the economy.
ReplyDeletejeremy, i like how you talked about an actual battle plan in yours. the part about putting the cemetary in and the first 1800 troops that were killed were there to stay just appaled me. i liked your essay and your knowledge and passion for the civil war is pretty awesome.
ReplyDeletejessica, i liked yours as well because you were very thourogh in your essay about the reconstruction act and which colonies were divided into wat groups. i personally did not know that they did that and now i understand why they did. and the fact that they wouldnt allow any of the confeds to vote for anything is CRAZY but it worked. so ovrall. nice essay
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