Reconstruction In Eric Foner's A Short History Of Reconstruction

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As an unabridged version of his other book, Eric Foner sets out to accomplish four main goals in A Short History of Reconstruction. These points enable the author to provide a smaller, but not neglectful, account of the United States during Reconstruction. By exploring the essence of the black experience, examining the ways in which Southern society evolved, the development of racial attitudes and race relations, and the complexities of race and class in the postwar South, as well as the emergence during the Civil War and Reconstruction of a national state possessing vastly expanded authority and a new set of purposes, Foner creates a narrative that encompasses some of the major issues during Reconstruction. Additionally, the author provides …show more content…

The author points out that southern societies did evolve, however, they resented this evolution. Foner uses the example of Southern Unionists to illustrate this point stating that, “In 1865, Southern Unionism, of whatever kind, did not imply a willingness to extend civil and political equality to the freedmen.” (Foner, 87) This resentment continues throughout the book, and shows that while evolution of Southern society happened, it was met with contentment, and individuals hope that things would go back to the way they used to be, hoping for the plantation slave way of life to return. This is most evident when Foner discusses the Ku Klux Klan, stating that “The Klan was a military force serving the interests of the Democratic party, the planter class, and all those who desired the restoration of white supremacy.” (Foner, …show more content…

Du Bois stating that “The slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again towards slavery.” (Foner, 254) This quote perhaps best emulates the center of the author’s book, creating a record of the trials faced by African Americans during the Reconstruction period. In tracing their journey from the beginning of their idea of freedom, to their involvement in the political sphere, to the violence they faced in order to restore the plantation system, the previous quote succinctly outlines the trials blacks went through in order to establish themselves as free after the American Civil War, bringing his argument full circle. (Foner, 25, 54, 184) Additionally, this quote illustrates how African Americans actually felt, rather than having an author interpret archival resources in order to discern the meaning of an

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