Read the following text articles
Article 1: Reconstruction Amendments
Transcript of 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery (1865)
AMENDMENT XIIII
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.
Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.
Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.
Excerpt from Transcript of 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Civil Rights (1868)
AMENDMENT XIV
Section 1.
All persons bor or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty,or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Transcript of 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Voting Rights (1870)
Fortieth Congress of the United States of America; At the third Session, Begun and held at the city of Washington, on Monday, the seventh day of December, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. A Resolution Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring) that the following article be proposed to the legislature of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely:
Article XV.
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 the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Article 2: Political Cartoon, about the "The Union As It Was" by Thomas Nast, 1874
In his 1874 cartoon titled, "The Union as It Was," Thomas Nast depicts a member of the Ku Klux Klan and a member of the White League shaking hands atop a skull and crossbones that rests above an African-American woman and man huddled over their dead child as a school house burns and an African American is lynched in the background.
By 1874, three amendments from article 1 had been added to the U.S. Constitution and Congress had passed numerous Reconstruction and civil rights acts for the benefit of former slaves.
#1 In two sentences, State your thesis.
#2 in one sentence, Consider the claims supported within text.
# 3 find quoted evidence from at least two of the provided articles and include an explanation of the specific claims from each to support your answer.
#4 Include quoted evidence from the articles that opposes your position in your rebuttal,
#5 Use persuasive elements such as word choice to strengthen the ideas that you express to make your argument and rebuttal.
#1 Thesis: The Reconstruction Amendments were instrumental in abolishing slavery, granting citizenship rights, and protecting voting rights for African Americans in the United States.
#2 Claims supported within text: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and the 15th Amendment protected the voting rights of citizens regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
#3 Quoted evidence and explanation:
- From the transcript of the 13th Amendment: "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." This evidence supports the claim that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, with the exception of punishment for crimes.
- From the transcript of the 14th Amendment: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty,or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This evidence supports the claim that the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and protected their rights, including the equal protection of laws.
#4 Quoted evidence opposing the position:
- From the political cartoon description: "Thomas Nast depicts a member of the Ku Klux Klan and a member of the White League shaking hands atop a skull and crossbones that rests above an African-American woman and man huddled over their dead child as a school house burns and an African American is lynched in the background." This evidence illustrates the continued presence of racism, violence, and discrimination against African Americans even after the implementation of the Reconstruction Amendments, suggesting that the amendments did not fully address these issues.
#5 Word choice to strengthen ideas: By emphasizing words such as "instrumental," "abolishing," "granting," and "protecting" when discussing the achievements of the Reconstruction Amendments, the argument highlights their significant impact in bringing about positive change for African Americans. Additionally, by using words like "racism," "violence," and "discrimination" when discussing opposing evidence, the argument emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by African Americans despite the amendments' implementation.