Exploring John Brown's Message, Dust Bowl, and Reconstruction

This essay examines two key historical topics: the message of John Brown and the impact of the Dust Bowl. The first part analyzes John Brown's views on armed insurrection to abolish slavery, and the essay connects his message to the Reconstruction Amendments (14th and 15th), peonage, and co...Read More

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Introduction
John Brown was an American abolitionist who mainly believed in armed insurrection and
considered that it was the single way to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States.
Equality and freedom are considered the right of every individual. In this report, we will discuss
two different papers. In the first paper, we will define the message of the John Brown by using
peonage, reconstructions and the reversal of the 14th and 15th Amendments, current issues and
Civil Rights of police brutality (Richards, 2014). On the other hand, in the second paper, we will
discuss a factor known as Wrong Side up. Furthermore, in this paper, we will also study how
families survive in the Depression. Both the papers gives us a significant understanding about the
constitutions of the America and a film of Ken Burns.
Paper 1
As per its current condition, the message given by the John Brown is a warning to the Frederick
Douglass and Harriet Tubman. He was correct freedom is the right of an individual person, and it
is necessary to treat every individual equal with others because the overall success of a country
depends on it. According to the 14th reconstruction amendment different types of the right such
as equal protection right and the citizenship rights is awarded to the individuals (Re, 2012). They
were enforced to minimize discrimination on the basis of color, and race of individuals. As per
the reconstruction amendments, warning given by the John Brown is completely correct.
According to reconstruction amendments, it is right of every individual to get freedom as given
to other persons. This constitution does not involve a specific prohibition on discrimination on
the basis of sex and another basis. It is completely intended to guarantee freedom to different
former slaves and to prevent discrimination by providing civil rights to former slaves and

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citizens of the US. Peonage was comprehended within the involuntary servitude and slavery
defined by the thirteenth amendment act (Richards, 2014).
Peonage mainly declares that neither involuntary servitude nor slavery, shall existing within the
United States. The only thing which comes under peonage is punishment for crime whereof the
party have been stated convicted of the crime. So, according to the peonage amendment, the
message given by the John Brown is correct in its place because he did not give any punishment
and not occur any crime. He just demanded his rights and obligation which are awarded to them
being a person of the country. The 14th Amendment act mainly declares that all persons born
naturalized or born in the US are citizens of America and also includes African Americans. So,
as per the declaration of the 14th amendment, the message of the John Brown is right in its place.
They are also the members of the US and should give same right as providing to others. And the
15th Amendment Act of the United States prohibits every government from denying a citizen the
right to vote based on that color, and race of the citizen or previous condition of the servitude
(Brandwein, 2016). So, it can be said that they have the full right not only of freedom but also
give their votes on different issues of politics. Overall it can be said that the message given by
the John Brown is right and as the member of the US they also has the right to award all such
facilities and rights which are awarded to others.
Civil Right movements refer to the African-American civil rights movements. It is a social
movement whose purpose is to finish color and racial discrimination and segregations in the US
(Morris, 2016). Different types of amendment acts are developed to provide them protection and
civil rights. Civil rights of African-American citizens said that they should take the initiative in
securing their different constitutional rights. In the case of denied from giving such rights, they
should take aggressive legal and political action to save their rights. There are a number of issues

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regarding police brutality. The major issue is that the most officers take advantage of their own
powers and misbehave with others which leading crimes such as murder, rape and various others.
Furthermore, police brutality defiling the constitution which resulting in fatalities problems
(Chaney, 2013).
Paper 2
Dust Bowl film represents a period of severe dust storms that completely damaged the
agriculture and ecology of Canadian prairies and the US. The wrong side up is a word used by
the Burns while giving a description about the plow. Over development is known as a method of
seeing global inequality that concentrates on the negative consequences of excessive
consumption (McLeman, 2014). This man-made agricultural disaster break-down the economy
of the America, as well as American, moved to the great depression. The most important reason
for depression among American is that due to the dust bowl disaster they losses their homes and
they become homeless then they felt fear from their living conditions. It breaks down the
economy of the country because there is no income source for the peoples because they lost their
agriculture land and homes due to which they shift from one country to another country. Due to
this, a large number of Midwestern's businesses and banks shut down. Those people who still
stayed there face low prices of their livestock and crops due to which they moved in depression
(Burns, 2012). After the dust bowl, southern families faced lots of problems in living their day to
day life. For living their life, they demanded help from different citizens and took help of banks
also. They don't even have any food sources to buy food for them. Yet, they faced the situation
and survived with the help of different peoples. We can learn that that we should try hard to face
the situation and should have the confidence to live further life.

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Conclusion
After studying both the papers, it can be studied that both gives us a deep knowledge of its
different aspects. After conducting the first paper, it can be concluded that reconstruction
amendments and law plays a significant role in the life of American and African-American
citizens (Burns, 2012). Every people should have same rights as provided to others. After
studying the second paper, it can be said that the dust bowl influences the economy and people of
Southern families in a deep context. It is necessary for everyone to be confidence while facing
the disaster situation.

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References
Burns, K. (2012). The dust bowl. Film documentary first aired on PBS November, 18-19.
McLeman, R. A., Dupre, J., Ford, L. B., Ford, J., Gajewski, K., & Marchildon, G. (2014). What
we learned from the Dust Bowl: lessons in science, policy, and adaptation. Population and
environment, 35(4), 417-440.
Re, R. M., & Re, C. M. (2012). Voting and Vice: Criminal Disenfranchisement and the
Reconstruction Amendments. Yale Law Journal, 121, 1584.
Richards, D. A. (2014). Conscience and the constitution: History, theory, and law of the
reconstruction amendments. Princeton University Press.
Brandwein, P. (2016). A Lost Jurisprudence of the Reconstruction Amendments. Journal of
Supreme Court History, 41(3), 329-346.
Chaney, C., & Robertson, R. V. (2013). Racism and police brutality in America. Journal of
African American Studies, 17(4), 480-505.
Morris, A. (2016). Civil Rights Movement. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Race,
Ethnicity, and Nationalism.