The Liberator special edition
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Last edition
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The civil war is over, but what are the real consequences? After four years and five months of war peace has finally reached America. No more fighting, no more destruction, but many thing changed.
After confederate soldiers came back, they came t o see their homes destroyed, all their delight for having won the war was turned into sorrow.
The confederate soldier Val C. Giles described his first moments after back from his perilous task:He reached his house, and even his dog, Brave didn't r
recognize him at first. His parents were not here to greet him, in fact he has been gone for so much time that they did not expect him to come back. The soldiers saw all their past life destroyed, they defended their cause but their life changed in ways that you can't imagine. The period of reconstruction now started in this year of 1865. Now that the war is over many houses have been destructed, thus America needs this period of reconstruction. This reconstruction program was mainly needed by the southern states since as we all know the southern states were much more affected then the northern states. Talking about the southern states, the people are going to have a lot of work to do, not only for yed To add even more damage 9,000 miles of railroads were also destroyed. The civil war even took over their farmland, their farm buildings, and their farm machinery. In fact they lost a lot of what they had. Though the Southern have less deaths then the northerners. In number the north lost 364,000, while the southerner's lost 260,000 soldiers. Nevertheless, one out of three southern men are killed or wounded. This then means that more children were orphans, and brides were now widows. The southerners are now divided in three groups:reconstruction but also for their economy that is very challenged. The southerns ship
ping industry is almost all destroyed, to be more precise two thirds of this industry got destroyed
Black southerners: Many freed people are starting their lives over in a poor region with not much economic activity. When they were slaves they did receive food and shelter, though know they don't get anything. Many of them spent their whole life working for the southerners, so after their freedom was found they are homeless, and hungry. However their freedom is found, and in my opinion that is the best reward. Though surprisingly, some slaves decided to go work as slaves once again. So was this war really worth it? Know that the slaves go back to their old life?
Plantation owners: The plantation owners are suffering a lot, they lost a great amount of money, worth 3 billion dollars of slave labor are lost. Not only that but the federal government took 100 million dollars of southern plantation in cottons. Thus they lost so much money that some can't hire workers anymore, others have to sell their properties to subside to their families needs.
Though the question that everyone is asking themselves is should Poor white southerners: They can't find jobs as easily because know that freedmen were looking for jobs too thus they have more competition. Many
of them are moving to Mississippi and Texas. we forgive the southerners? Or punish them? and will the black man be treated equally? In my opinion the southerners will suffer enough economically, all their life is changing, that is a good enough punishment. However I strongly think that it will be hard for them to treat black people equally, for us northerners they are humans. Though for southerners they were used more as things then people. Before his death President Lincoln forgave the southerners, though he did not precise that the black Americans have the right to vote, also he did not say that the southern states were readmitted in the union. Today vice president Andrew Johnson took over. You may remember that he was poor, and became a slave owner as he grew up. Like president Lincoln he forgave southerners, he permitted each state to hold a constitutional convention. This was not exactly the same thing that Lincoln decided on since Lincoln said that they could form the constitutional convention only after 10 percent of voters in the state has sworn allegiance to the Union. Of course he decided that states needed to abolish slavery and repudiate the confederate debt. He also stated that states could rejoin the union after holding an election. Know that slaves are free many things changed for every single one of them. Freedom is finally between their hands, they will be able to go outside, children will be able to play with other, mother's will not be separated from their children anymore. The joy was such as most of them cried of joy. After the war many found their loved ones in other plantations, since they were separated from them. Though we all know that freedom is only halfway found, many black leaders are persuaded that the freedom will come with economic independence. As you may know a proposal was made that freedmen would be able to take white-owned land. General William Tecumseh distribute
ted the land and gave 40 acres plot. Though personally I think that idea was too hard to cope with because every black family will want 40 acres of land. Of course some of the land was then returned to white owners. Many black Americans reunited together, they are even forming churches, others making groups that could involve anything such a drama groups or debating clubs. As a human I think everyone has the right to learn. Did you know that 90 percent of black man are illiterate? Even after working all their lives as slaves they are still eager to learn. We should take example on them, we are always complaining while they work to learn. Many white teachers come to the southern states to teach freemen, other freemen are trying to teach themselves. Finally you I think you have all heard about the Freedman's Bureau. It gives out clothing, food, and medical supplies to everyone that is in need black or white.
This ends our last article, after the civil war and freedom retrieved I think that everything will get better. The hopes for the future are better then what I imagined. Thank you for following us.
