The KKK was founded in 1866 by six Confederate veterans. This group started off as a fun and innocent way of socializing. Not long after the start of the KKK, other branches or "dens" of the KKK were being started. Many white southerners felt that the men of these various clans were following their duties and they were good men, and that all these men wanted to do was to protect their families. These men wanted more than that, though. They did not want black men being educated or owning their own land. Black men were not supposed to have the chance to become anything like white men. Whites who were not educated did not want blacks in school, while farmers/planters at this time wanted these ex-slaves back working in their fields. "Each student meant one less laborer," it says on page 574, is exactly how the whites felt during this time. Their ex-workers were taken away from them, educating themselves, and now the whites had to find people to do work on their farms or do it themselves, and they felt too good for that. In some places of Alabama, people felt that the Klan was only for blacks who didn't work, or who's bosses complained about their work. Not only did the Klan terrorize ex-slaves and some whites who they felt broke the "Old South's racial code," but they attacked Republican leaders and voters as well. They took control of poll elections, and took out the ones they did not want there on election day. If a black man held a position in office he would be terrorized and sometimes killed. This terrible between 1868 and 1871 violence reached horrible levels, and finally around 1870 Federal Intervention took place. The Acts of 1870 and 1871 started an end to a lot of the KKK's power, but the acts didn't take care of everything because other groups in the South still continued on their rampage of violence and terror.
Discussion Questions:
1. The KKK started in 1866 and didn't start dying down until around 1870. Why do you think it took the Federal Government four years to finally do something about this horrible problem that was happening to FREEDmen?
2. Besides blacks becoming possible more educated than whites, and planters loosing their workers in their fields, what could be some other solid potential reasons that triggered the wrath of the Ku Klux Klan?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Meaning of Freedom
What is the author arguing?
The three writers of these documents are writing to a person higher in power than themselves trying to get their point across. All three of these men are beyond thankful that they are free, but they each are asking for something more.
How does the author appeal to pathos in his writing?
These authors use emotional words and stories to try to get the reader to understand where they are coming from. The author of document one talks about his children being beaten by a master and there is nothing he can do about it. Anyone with a heart who reads that must feel some sort of sadness or remorse. The writer is not making anything up but talking from his heart and begging for help to get his family back. The Reverand in document two talks about how important marriage is. His words are emotional when he is talking about the bondage and responsibilty marriage takes and how important it is to newly freed slaves.
What is the historical significance of this document?
These letters show one of the biggest changes in history. When the Emancipation Proclamation stated that the slaves held in rebellion states are freed, that changed the world. It gave slaves/African Americans a brand new beginning and the right to live their lives like every other American, almost. Slaves were no longer slaves and could rejoin their families together without being seperated anymore. This document shows us that ex-slaves were allowed to marry now, as before when under slavery it was impossible. The emancipation proclamation didn't give slaves EVERY freedom right Americans have/had but it was the first step for them getting closer. The third document shows how proud slaves are to be free. They want to live the ways the Americans live. "But we do devote to its success, our hopes, our toils, our whole heart, our sacred, and our lives." Although the ex-slaves still have tough obstacles like living in poverty they express that they will live the American way faithfully and with excitement.
Do you find the author's argument convincing?
I do find these mens' arguments convincing or worthy of what they are asking. It may seem like some are beign selfish because the slaves were just freed so what else do they want, right? But I agree that if they are free now they should be treated like every other free American. Ex-slaves should be able to get married, to vote, to own land, and everything else they are asking. Why would Presidents and other people go through so much trouble to free them if once they are free they aren't treated much different. Dennis, the former slave looking for his family may have a hard time if his children are in a state where slaves weren't freed, and that I would understand if there is nothing that can be done about it. But what is the hurt in him trying, and who wouldn't try to get their family back.
The writers in this document are not only slaves, one is a Reverand, and the other was just a general petition to the Union. What we see is everyone is affected by the slaves being freed. Most people want to help out African American slaves, regardless of skin color. The ex-slaves are overjoyed to be free and are willing to do whatever it takes to prove themselves of equal value to whites. In this document one states, even if he must he would happily die for the country honoring its name. That is a powerful thought and it shows how much they really wanted this and regardless of the torture and the pain they have seen and gone through they still love their country and want to be brothers with the white men. The last part of this entire document sort of proves slaves' point on being treated as equal as the whites now that they are no longer slaves. "It can afford to trust him with a vote as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." Not only does this apply to slaves being allowed to vote but to everything else they are trying to accomplish. When slaves were allowed to enlist in the military, Americans were trusting the men they betrayed with weapons and taking their word they would defend their country. If through everything they went through they handed over a "bayonet," now that they are free they should be more than willing to allow voting, marriage, and every other political right.
The three writers of these documents are writing to a person higher in power than themselves trying to get their point across. All three of these men are beyond thankful that they are free, but they each are asking for something more.
How does the author appeal to pathos in his writing?
These authors use emotional words and stories to try to get the reader to understand where they are coming from. The author of document one talks about his children being beaten by a master and there is nothing he can do about it. Anyone with a heart who reads that must feel some sort of sadness or remorse. The writer is not making anything up but talking from his heart and begging for help to get his family back. The Reverand in document two talks about how important marriage is. His words are emotional when he is talking about the bondage and responsibilty marriage takes and how important it is to newly freed slaves.
What is the historical significance of this document?
These letters show one of the biggest changes in history. When the Emancipation Proclamation stated that the slaves held in rebellion states are freed, that changed the world. It gave slaves/African Americans a brand new beginning and the right to live their lives like every other American, almost. Slaves were no longer slaves and could rejoin their families together without being seperated anymore. This document shows us that ex-slaves were allowed to marry now, as before when under slavery it was impossible. The emancipation proclamation didn't give slaves EVERY freedom right Americans have/had but it was the first step for them getting closer. The third document shows how proud slaves are to be free. They want to live the ways the Americans live. "But we do devote to its success, our hopes, our toils, our whole heart, our sacred, and our lives." Although the ex-slaves still have tough obstacles like living in poverty they express that they will live the American way faithfully and with excitement.
Do you find the author's argument convincing?
I do find these mens' arguments convincing or worthy of what they are asking. It may seem like some are beign selfish because the slaves were just freed so what else do they want, right? But I agree that if they are free now they should be treated like every other free American. Ex-slaves should be able to get married, to vote, to own land, and everything else they are asking. Why would Presidents and other people go through so much trouble to free them if once they are free they aren't treated much different. Dennis, the former slave looking for his family may have a hard time if his children are in a state where slaves weren't freed, and that I would understand if there is nothing that can be done about it. But what is the hurt in him trying, and who wouldn't try to get their family back.
The writers in this document are not only slaves, one is a Reverand, and the other was just a general petition to the Union. What we see is everyone is affected by the slaves being freed. Most people want to help out African American slaves, regardless of skin color. The ex-slaves are overjoyed to be free and are willing to do whatever it takes to prove themselves of equal value to whites. In this document one states, even if he must he would happily die for the country honoring its name. That is a powerful thought and it shows how much they really wanted this and regardless of the torture and the pain they have seen and gone through they still love their country and want to be brothers with the white men. The last part of this entire document sort of proves slaves' point on being treated as equal as the whites now that they are no longer slaves. "It can afford to trust him with a vote as safely as it trusted him with a bayonet." Not only does this apply to slaves being allowed to vote but to everything else they are trying to accomplish. When slaves were allowed to enlist in the military, Americans were trusting the men they betrayed with weapons and taking their word they would defend their country. If through everything they went through they handed over a "bayonet," now that they are free they should be more than willing to allow voting, marriage, and every other political right.
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