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Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.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
#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.
Thesis: The Reconstruction Amendments, including the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, were crucial in abolishing slavery, granting citizenship rights, and protecting voting rights for all citizens in the United States.
Claims supported within the text: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, ensuring equal protection of the laws. The 15th Amendment protected the voting rights of citizens, prohibiting denial based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Evidence from Article 1:
- "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." (13th Amendment) - This quote supports the claim that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime.
- "Section 1. All persons born 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." (14th Amendment) - This quote supports the claim that the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
Evidence from Article 2:
The second article provided is a political cartoon, which does not contain specific quotes or claims to directly cite evidence from.
Rebuttal evidence, opposing position:
One possible opposing position could be that the Reconstruction Amendments were not effective in achieving their intended goals. To support this, one could quote from historical accounts or academic analysis that highlight the limitations and challenges faced during the Reconstruction era, such as the persistence of discriminatory practices or the lack of effective enforcement of these amendments.
Persuasive elements:
To strengthen the argument, persuasive elements such as strong word choice and compelling language can be used. For example, instead of stating that the Reconstruction Amendments were important, one could assert that they were "crucial" or "pivotal" in achieving equal rights and justice. Additionally, emphasizing the significance of these amendments in terms of abolishing slavery, granting citizenship, and protecting voting rights adds weight to the argument. In the rebuttal, it is important to use reasoned language and evidence to address opposing viewpoints respectfully while maintaining the strength of the main argument.