Citation
Eric Foner, Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1988.
Thesis
This book gives a sound evaluation of one of the complicated American history periods. This book defines how historians viewed reconstruction and people everywhere as it chronicles how Americans of different races responded to the unmatched changes that the war unleashed and the end of slavery. With the defeat of the confederation, reconstruction appeared like the dawn of new era to blacks together with progressive whites; however, it did not take place. This valuable, classic history re-creates the period of post-Civil War as a fundamental drama through which ordinary people obtained equal billing with dealers, wheelers and politicians.
Development
It has been satisfying fiction that Civil War was aimed at freeing slaves, but it is unfortunate that this view is the simplistic extreme. This book gets rid of such simplistic notions in its comprehensive examination of the incredible freedom struggles of men who had been freed together with their allies during the reconstruction era between 1865 and 1877, to attain a freedom modicum, much of which had been heaved away by the close of 19th century. This was mainly done by the old Southern oligarchy. Political, sociological and economic developments are evaluated from the intersecting individual states parameters. They are also examined from the perspective of political parties, class, race and multi state farming regions.
This book makes evident the fact that reconstruction was not one, well thought program. It makes it clear that reconstruction was pitched from one policy to the other. At various moments, it involved Union army, Presidential Reconstruction, the Freedman’s Bureau, policies of neglect, Radical (Congressional) Reconstruction, ad Redemption. Additionally, these assorted regimes and programs were managed erratically and always to the harm of the freedmen depending on the prejudices and competencies of administrators. If nothing, reconstruction is somewhat convoluted and difficult to summarize.
Critique
The alleged affinity for Marxist thought seems to invalidate the book; although, the book seems to be in actuality somewhat even-handed, with detail and well documented sources. However, the book does not sugarcoat the egregious repression of rights and killing of thousands of freedmen for attempting to put those rights into practice; additionally, these reprehensive acts persisted for long period. This book has probably not been widely read but it ought to be read. There seems to be no other book that tries to be thorough in explaining and describing Reconstruction. The book despondently acts a window into the conceit of moral superiority of America. In the book one wonders what it might have been like if callous Republicans like Hayes Rutherford never sold Reconstruction, and allowed the process to go on through the late 19th century. On the contrary, the Redeemers nullified much of what had been gained, resulting to the infamous Jim Crow era. This is a well-written book for various readers. Students can use the book when studying the American history.
Bibliography
Daniel Stowell, Rebuilding Zion: The Religious Reconstruction of the South, 1863-1877. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Eric Foner, Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1988.
