Document 3: Hale County, Alabama, Resolution


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Citation: From file 54A-H 16.8, Judiciary Committee, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, RG 233.

Note: Truman H. Aldrich was the Congressman from the 9th District of Alabama. This resolution was received by the Committee on the Judiciary on March 1, 1897. "Beat No. 12" refers to the election precinct or supervisory district of the writers of the resolution.

Vocabulary: incumbent, resolution, petitioners.

Questions for Students

1. To whom are the black citizens addressing their petition?

2. What are they requesting?

Discussion Questions

1. What are the duties and privileges of citizenship?

2. Why do you think the petitioners are concerned with military duty? What do you think they are trying to accomplish by their petition? Are their requests realistic or rhetorical? Consider in your discussion the role of blacks in the military.

3. Compare and contrast the sentiments expressed in this resolution with those of the Baptist Ministers’ Union Resolution (page 576). How might you explain their differences or similarities?