Activity In this activity, you’ll read and analyze the song “The Unreconstructed Rebel,” written around 1866. You’ll draw conclusions from this song about Southerners’ feelings toward African Americans after the Civil War. Part A Who is the speaker or the singer of the song? How do you know? Part B
In stanza V, the speaker states that he won’t be reconstructed. What does he mean by that? How do you know?
Part C
What does the singer or author wish would have happened? What does this tell you about his attitude?
The song-
The Unreconstructed Rebel

I
Oh, I'm a good old Rebel,
Now that's just what I am;
For this 'fair land of Freedom'
I do not care a da**.
I'm glad I fit against it—
I only wish we'd won.
And I don't want no pardon
For anything I've done.

II
I hates the Constitution,
This great Republic too;
I hates the Freedmen's Buro,
In uniforms of blue.
I hates the nasty eagle,
With all his brag and fuss;
But the lyin', thievin' Yankees
I hates' em wuss and wuss.
I hates the Yankee nation,
And everything they do;
I hates the Declaration
Of Independence too.
I hates the glorious Union,
'Tis dripping with our blood;
And I hates the striped banner—
I fit it all I could.

III
I followed old Marse Robert
For four years, near about.
Got wounded in three places,
And starved at Point Lookout.
I cotch the roomatism
A-campin'in the snow,
But I killed a chance of Yankees-
And I`d like to kill some mo'.

IV
Three hundred thousand Yankees
Is stiff Southern dust;
We got three hundred thousand
Befo' they conquered us.
They died of Southern fever
And Southern steel and shot;
And I wish it was three million
Instead of what we got.

V
I can't take up my musket
And fight' em now no mo',
But I ain't a-goin'to love' em,
Now that is sartin sho';
And I don't want no pardon
For what I was and am;
And I won't be reconstructed,
And I do not give a da**