I'm involved in a debate about the former Confederate states and their
stance towards the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments.  I made the
statement that none of the states ratified these amendments.  I was
called on it; of course, these states DID ratify these amendments.

I had read that the 13th amendment was a prerequisite for rejoining
the Union, and that Republican-dominated (scalawag and carpetbagger)
state governments did the actual rejoining.  I also read that
resistance of the Confederate states to granting civil rights to
former slaves led the Republican Congress to place the South under
martial law.  Puppet governments ratified the 14th and 15th
amendments.

Basically, my friend and I were arguing about the Confederate flag and
the role of race during Reconstruction.  He's pushing states' rights
and heritage; race doesn't factor in.  I'm arguing that race and civil
rights were a big part of Reconstruction, and that the so-called
"abuses" were waged because Northern reformers couldn't abide by the
South's racism.

But now I need proof, and I haven't found it easily.  The LOC and PBS
sites have sections on it, but I need stronger proof.

Could I please have a summary on the stances of REAL Southerners at
the time towards these amendments and civil rights, as well as a brief
history of how the state governments were taken over by the North to
push these amendments?

I need citations as well.  Online are OK, but print is better.  The
sources must be from well-respected scholars; he will dismiss
partisans and activists out of hand.

I wasn't sure how to price this question.  Please get the ball rolling
and I will up the price as needed.

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by entaroadun-ga on 16 Feb 2005 05:23 PST

* OK, I just updated the list price to $50.  Would someone please
provide me an answer?  If I'm completely wrong, I'd like to know. 
Please provide some proof either way.  I'd be willing to pay for a
straight answer.  Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by entaroadun-ga on 18 Feb 2005 09:15 PST

Updated price to $75.  I'd really like an answer.  I know I'm taking a
politically controversial stance, but I'd like to know if I'm right or
wrong.

you are technically both correct.  states right was another way of
saying the right to hold slaves.  the bit about heritage is correct as
well, but so is the bit about civil rights.  a book that lead me to
this answer is "Celia, A Slave" which is about 150 pages long and
about a slave girl in missouri that kills her master who was using her
as a concubine. it not only gave that story but also paints a quite
vivid picture the era leading up to the war and the state of mind of
the south before the war.  another source of mine is my college
history Prof. who pounded in our heads that the war was about the
right to hold slaves although it contradicts most high school history
books.

oh also as a side note not all of the confederate states ratified the
13th amendment right away.  it was either louisiana or mississippi
that procrastinated till 1996 before they finally ratified it.