State Historical Society of Iowa

"A New Reconstruction" Letter, May 1919

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "A New Reconstruction," University Commission on Southern Race Questions, May 1919

Description

This was a letter drafted by college professors of the University Commission on Southern Race Questions and it was directed to college-age men. The letter discusses a "new reconstruction," how African Americans are able to contribute to the "Great War" and that relations between African Americans and whites should be respectful.

Transcript of "A New Reconstruction" Letter

Source Dependent Questions

  • What was the overall argument of this letter, written by the University Commission on Southern Race Questions? Explain in your own words. Then quote one passage from the source that best captures the argument.
  • The letter states, "The Negroes' contribution to the welfare of the nation has never been more clearly indicated than by his services during the Great War [World War I].
  • When the call to arms was sounded his country expected him to do his duty, and he did not fail." Why would the authors include passages such as this in the letter?
    Given what you've read in other sources in this source set, what specific passages of this letter would the audience most likely have found difficult to accept or openly resisted?
  • How was the message in this source similar and different from the message in "Why Disfranchisement is Bad"?

Citation Information

"A New Reconstruction," University Commission on Southern Race Questions, May 1919. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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