EOTO Reaction

    The positives of the reconstruction start with forty acres and a mule. There was an order placed that stated 400,000 acres of land would be given to freed African American families. This was meant to establish their own economic independence, and how it could be land to themselves and not have to face discrimination and hate. This land was taken from the wealthy confederates, the very land the African Americans used to work on and was given to them to help establish their place. The freedmen's bureau was established by congress in 1865, in order to help black slaves and poor whites following the end of the Civil War. They provided things like food, housing, medical aid, education, etc. They set up offices on 15 southern and border states and it followed the War Department's record keeping system which held labor contracts, letters, marriage, and hospital registers. It was brought to a close for not enough funds, but the impact it had on the slaves was hope, and a belief that they can survive on their own.

The reconstruction Amendments are the 13th amendment which abolished slavery, the 14th amendment which granted equal protection laws, and the 15th amendment which was the right to vote for black men. This big reconstruction was brought on by the abolitionists who were petitioning to continue where Lincoln was unfortunately not able to finish. African Americans were even able to be elected to the house of representatives. Joseph Hayne Rainey was the first African American to serve and preside over the House of Representatives. He advocated for the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 and the Civil Rights act of 1875 which served as protection for the black community. The Civil Rights act of 1875 was first introduces in 1870 by senator Charles Sumner, and it guaranteed all citizens, regardless of skin color, accommodations and the right to be included in jury duty. The bill was passed in February 27th, 1985 and became law on March 1st, 1875.

    The negatives of the reconstruction era first introduced the assassination of president Lincoln. He died April 15, 1865 in Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. His death caused national grief and halted the possibility of peace and threw the government into disarray. He was an important figure in history and was the main driving force behind the goal of reconstruction, he believed that reuniting the country was a priority. Andrew Johnson ascended to presidency and was harder on the south than Lincoln, and that allowed the south to regress instead of progress. The black codes where enacted due to Andrew Johnsons plan of reconstruction. The southern governments enacted a plethora of codes to limit black peoples success and to create a system similar to slavery. Of course white men would take advantage of these laws and force them into work that they should not have to due to debt peonage which was illegal. There were also laws that violated whites rights to increase wages to black people just to keep black people from being able to live on their own. The Ku Klux Klan started as a social club that turned into a powerful force in the south. Their goal was the reverse and prevent any progress black people may have made in the past. 10% of the black legislation were attacked and 7 black members were killed.

South Carolina was the state with the highest concentration of Ku Klux Klan members, and they would even go as far as to lynch prisoners already facing punishment for crimes they may not have even committed. The problem was, that they were hidden in plain sight, with white people all around there was no way to tell who was a member and who wasn't a member. The New Orleans Riots took place on July 30, 1866 which was preceded by the Memphis riot of 1866. Town sheriffs shot into mobs of black veterans which were not just protests and it led to 38 deaths in which 34 were black. The civil rights cases of 1883 was a series of 5 supreme court cases that ruled the 13th and 14th amendments did not allow congress to prohibit racial discrimination by private individuals. This affirmed that the government could not interfere with discrimination that was in non public places which means that it was still very much at large. It undermined the governments power and made the 13th and 14th amendment seem as if they didn't matter in the eyes of the people who were still finding ways through and around the laws.

Plessy v Ferguson

    Greetings ladies and gentlemen of the court, your honor. When it comes to the case of the respondent our side coins the phrase "separate but equal". This phrase can be applied to the most important aspects of life. America's economy is a major priority, as its what is keeping this country self-sufficient. Separating the races does not make either side any more important than the other, or any more successful than the other. An example of a successful black economy would be the black wall street of Galveston Texas. This Wall Street opened many successful businesses, monuments, and educational resources for African Americans. This stands as solid proof of the contribution and equal opportunities black people can take advantage of. 

    Now I assume the petitioner’s argument will speak along the lines of integration allowing for a more competitive market which in turn will boost our economy or that separate facilities are too costly.

Frankly, if blacks and whites start integrating, we all know that won't end well for the safety and security of the people of America. But speaking strictly of economics, forcing two races into a place of business can cause tension, and therefore scare off and frighten customers. Naturally, this isn't good for business, and instead having separate businesses and institutions stands to be the best way to gain profit and customers. One also must take into account the cost of accommodations to fit an integrated race society, increasing sizes of local governments and businesses weigh a pricey burden that will then put our country into an economic hole. Trying to force such stark change from the society we currently live in is bound to shake the country and put us at risk for an economic collapse. 

    Stepping away from businesses for a moment, just the simple idea of integration itself threatens the stability of the social hierarchy. Many people may not know this but drastically changing the social order leads to reduced investments, and constant quarrels that can hinder economic growth and simply cause more work for the judicial system. 

       Now speaking from a more positive point a view, the separation of races allows for a more specific allocation of resources.

These demographics are different, so it is possible to have different business for different races that all thrive the same which in turn boosts our economy. By already catering to specific demographics these businesses and local governments can more accurately follow trends and push out new products or policies that help our countries financial situation. Ladies and gentlemen wars are expensive as most of you may know, and it's not just wars that are costly, its smaller scale fights as well. Destruction of public property must be paid for and fixed by the government and over time these small disputes will become deadly to the economy of America. Tensions are still unbelievably high between not just races but between people's beliefs on how our country should make its profit. What we don't need right now is another divide that will put us into a deeper hole. After all, we just finished pouring money in the form of investments in our railroads and still need more time to get more returns on that. To bring this argument to a close, one can simply say our economy is better off with the separation of races because integration is too costly for what it's worth. 

Mock Trial Reaction

     John Mann is a "slave owner" because he rented a slave named Lydia. She is tasked with doing work for him for a certain amount of time. During that time Lydia ran away from punishment, and then John Mann proceeded to shoot her in the back with a pistol. She did not die but he was charged with attempted murder and assault and battery and was fined for 5 dollars. Mann says the fine was unjust and that the 5 dollars should be refunded to him.

    The offenders claimed that even though slavery existed from the dawn of time, not all slavery is the same. They claim that we are all the same and that we are all human, slavery or not. They are not asking to be put to death, but to be punished for harming another human, not a slave, not a savage, but a human. They claim that instead of being branded with a hot iron, or getting your ears cut off all they ask is for 5 dollars. A woman should not be subjected to the same pains a man should. These slaves bleed red just like the slave masters, and the lord states to treat others how you would like to be treated. Slaves are expensive, so much so that Mr. Mann doesn't even own one, and yet all they ask for is 5 dollars. They believe the clause that all men be treated equal extends to slaves as well. Slaves should not be harmed by anyone but their master, and Mann simply rented that slave and did not own her.

    The defense claims that slavery is a reflection of economy and human life, so why should be punished for upholding this economy. Slavery isn't just a system but the cornerstone of the south, he shouldn't be punished for defending the cornerstone. Slaves are seen as property, and they are an investment. It is the owners duty to control and maintain their slaves, and the slaves duty to submit themselves completely to the master. The masters authority has to be absolute and his actions were in line with societal norms and his contemporary rule was absolute. As Christians the bible itself, deem Mann's actions as holy and justified. It is not incorrect for him to whip her and shoot her when she did not submit herself to her master. Even though she was rented, she still belonged to him for the time being. In Ephesians 6 slaves must obey their master with respect and fear just as they would obey Christ. Lydia did not follow the lord, so Mann was carrying out his religious duty of disciplining his slave.

    The judge restated facts and his opinions on the case. If agriculture is so important to the south, why are they comfortable with using other humans to do the work rather than making machines or use livestock to do the tilling for them. This doesn't take away the fact that slavery is the reason the south is thriving and it doesn't just benefit the slave owner but all of society. How can we as Christians condemn Mann when our religion has accepted religion so far back as Abraham and even the angels encouraged slavery. An argument against slavery is an argument of Christianity. For all intensive purposed slavery is civilization and punishing slaves is apart of the civilization system which is enforced by law. History does not care about your emotions, and law does not care about your emotions. It all comes down to contractual law, in the contractual renting he has assumed the position of a slave owner and all the rights that come with it. The verdict was in favor of Mr. Mann court adjourned.

Amistad

     The Amistad is a Spanish ship that held 53 African captives from Sierra Leone, and was tasked with transporting them to Cuba on a Caribbean plantation as slaves in 1839. This violated multiple treaties on the slave trade so of course what they were doing was illegal and would send shockwaves through the United States. But three days into the trip a 25 year old captive named Sangbe Pieh also known as Joseph Cinuqe broke free, and then freed the rest of the captives. Together they took over the ship after killing the captain. There were two men Pedro Montez and Jose Ruiz who were the plantation owners who purchased the 53 slaves and got them aboard the ship. The slaves held them and forced them to take them back home to Sierra Leone. The captives though had no clue that at night they were being steered North and eventually after 63 days of the back and forth, the ship ended up in Long Island New York. There it was discovered by Thomas Gedney, who was the captain of navy the ship Washington. The ship was seized and all its cargo and everyone on it were taken to the Connecticut court. 

    The two plantation owners were freed while the slaves were held in captivity for piracy, and murder. Although eventually the charges against the captives would be dropped they were still held in captivity. They were being treated harshly and some of them died, by the end of the trial only 35 of them  survived. The case then went to the Federal District Court of Connecticut, and the plantation owners, the government of Spain, and the Captain who found them were each asking for rights to the slaves, or compensation. The president Martin Van Buren was in favor of sending the captives to become slaves in Cuba but abolitionists in the North raised money to defend them and their freedom. The abolitionists used the money to hire lawyer Roger S Baldwin, and two attorneys Seth Stables and Theodore Sedgewick. Without the abolitionists raising awareness then this case would have ended quietly with the captives becoming slaves. The attorney's revealed to the court that they were free Africans from outside the Spanish slave trade who were kidnapped from Africa. 

    The district court ruled the slaves free and for them to be sent back to Africa, but the U.S District Attorney filed an appeal to the Supreme Court. He demanded that they be returned to Spain to be incorporated into the slave trade as per the treaty. In the supreme Court trial, the Africans were represented by the revered John Quincy Adams who was the first president to not own slaves. He spent 8 1/2 hours defending the Africans and their rights before the Supreme Court, and ultimately won their freedom. In a 7-1 decision, the Supreme Court decided that it was their ultimate right to be free since they were illegally kidnapped, and taken from their rightful home.