A Short History of Reconstruction [Abridged] [Paperback]

I have never read Foner's longer treatment of this tragic period in American history, "Reconstruction, America's Unfinished Revolution," but this abridgement gives an exellent overview of the subject. Foner debunks the theory that the "Radical Republicans" were the bad guys and the Andrew Johnson was a moderate acting in the spirit of Lincoln. In fact, there was very little progress in restoring rights to freedmen during the first year or two after the Civil War under Johnson's "moderate" approach. In fact, Johnson, while a firm supporter of the Union during the war was, in his views towards blacks, a racist as demonstrated by statemnets Johnson made and which this book documents. It was only after the "Radicals" forced federal intervention that blacks made significant progress. Unfortunately, Democrats began to make headway in the South, often by the use of intimidation and violence, and what remained of the Republican party began to change it's agenda. Certainly, the Republicans in the North became indifferent, culminating in President Rutherford B. Hayes' abandonment of Reconstruction after his narrow victory over Samuel Tilden in the 1876 election. This book is illumi\nating and well written. Although an abridgement, it reads smoothly rather than as a patchwork. I recommend this book to all who are interested in this underemphasized period of American history

In an attempt to document the important issues of reconstruction, Eric Foner compiled his book Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. This book was the basis for the abridged version titled, A Short History of Reconstruction. The shorter version is an excellent study of Reconstruction, and does not read as though it were patched together for light reading. Foner addresses all the major issues leading up reconstruction, and then finishing his book shortly after the end of reconstruction and the election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876.

In the preface of his book, Foner discusses the historiography of Reconstruction. He notes that during the early part of the twentieth century many historians considered Reconstruction as one of the darkest periods of American history. Foner notes that this viewpoint changed during the 1960s as revisionists shed new "light" on reconstruction. The revisionists saw Andrew Johnson as a stubborn racist, and viewed the Radical Republicans as "idealistic reformers genuinely committed to black rights." (xiii) Foner notes further that recent studies of reconstruction argue that the Radicals were actually quite conservative, and most Radicals held on to their racist views and put up very little fight as the whites once again began to govern the south.

Foner initially describes the African-American experience during the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Foner argues that African-Americans were not simply figures that took little or no action in the events of the day. Foner notes the enlistment of thousands of African-Americans in the Union army during the war. Foner also notes that many of the African-Americans that eventually became civil leaders had at one time served in the Union Army. Foner states, "For men of talent and ambition, the army flung open a door to advancement and respectability." (pg. 4) Foner notes that as reconstruction progressed, African-Americans were the targets of violence and racism. Foner describes several lynchings and other violent acts blacks were subject to.

Foner believes that the transition of slaves into free laborers and equal citizens was the most drastic example of change following the end of the war. Foner notes how African-Americans were eventually forced to return to the plantations, not as slaves but as share croppers, and were thus introduced to a new form of slavery. Foner argues that this arrangement introduced a new class structure to the South. Foner states "It was an economic transformation that would culminate, long after the end of Reconstruction, in the consolidation of a rural proletariat composed of a new owning class of planters and merchants, itself subordinate to Northern financiers and industrialists. (pg. 78) Foner illustrates how both blacks and whites struggled to use the state and local governments to develop their own interests and establish their respective place in the evolving social orders.

Another theme Foner addresses in his book is racism itself and the interconnection of race and class in the South. Foner notes that racism was not just a Southern phenomenon, and this racism was a definite obstacle to social change. Foner notes the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and other groups that were established to promote violence towards blacks and those who sympathized with African-Americans. Foner shows that some Southerners were ready to work with blacks, but were thwarted by the continual pressure from the former planter class as they desired to reexert their control over blacks politically and economically.

Another subject Foner addresses is the expanded presence of federal authority, as well as a growing idea and commitment to the idea that equal rights belonged to all citizens, regardless of race. Foner shows how both Northern and Southern blacks embraced the power to vote. Foner also notes that as Reconstruction ended, many blacks saw the loss of suffrage and the loss of freedom. (pg. 128) Foner illustrates that because the presence of blacks at the poll threatened the established traditions, corruption increased, which helped to undermine the support for Reconstruction. Foner notes that because the former leaders of the Confederacy were barred from political office, who were the regions "natural leaders," a reversal of sympathies took place which portrayed the Southern whites as victims, and blacks unfit to exercise suffrage.

Foner also notes how Reconstruction affected the North as well. Foner argues that it was obviously less revolutionary than it was in the South. Foner notes that a new group of elites surfaced after the war, industrialists and railroad entrepreneurs emerged as powerful and influential leaders alongside the former commercial elite. Foner notes that the Republicans in the North did attempt to improve the lives of Northern blacks. However, Foner argues that as there were far fewer blacks in the North, it was harder for blacks to have their agendas and needs addressed in the local legislatures. Foner states, "Most Northern blacks remained trapped in inferior housing and menial and unskilled jobs." (pg. 205) Foner adds that the few jobs blacks were able to get were constantly being challenge by the huge influx of European immigrants.

Foner's subject is definitely worthy of his original volume. Reconstruction is a subject that can still be interpreted in several ways, including the revisionist school of thought. Foner seems to be as objective as possible on this subject, and has fairly addressed all major issues that apply.

This is a concise and very understandable book about the period of Recontruction--that followed the Civil War. It is well written and presents events in a context of social and cultural history.The book explores the effects of the times on the people--both in the North and in the South following the war. Highly recommended for a broad view of an amazing time in American history.