By 1870; just five years after Confederate surrender and thirteen years after the Dred Scott decision ruled blacks ineligible for citizenship; Congressional action had ended slavery and given the vote to black men. That same year; Hiram Revels and Joseph Hayne Rainey became the first African-American U.S. senator and congressman respectively. In South Carolina; only twenty years after the death of arch-secessionist John C. Calhoun; a black man; Jasper J. Wright; took a seat on the state's Supreme Court. Not even the most optimistic abolitionists had thought such milestones would occur in their lifetimes. The brief years of Reconstruction marked the United States' most progressive moment prior to the civil rights movement. Previous histories of Reconstruction have focused on Washington politics. But in this sweeping; prodigiously researched narrative; Douglas Egerton brings a much bigger; even more dramatic story into view; exploring state and local politics and tracing the struggles of some fifteen hundred African-American officeholders; in both the North and South; who fought entrenched white resistance. Tragically; their movement was met by ruthless violence--not just riotous mobs; but also targeted assassination. With stark evidence; Egerton shows that Reconstruction; often cast as a "failure" or a doomed experiment; was rolled back by murderous force. The Wars of Reconstruction is a major and provocative contribution to American history.
#535086 in Books 2007-11-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .98 x 5.25l; #File Name: 1605060364435 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Some of Twain's lesser known worksBy Mandy WultschYes; you can find most of these works on the Internet; but it is nice to have them in a bound format that is easy to take on vacation and can be read while a plane is taxing; taking off; and landing.I especially like the Letters From Earth; a narrative from the point of view of Satan (an angel being punished for his sass by exile on Earth) about the beliefs of Christianity. Very typical Twain but an essay I had not had the pleasure of reading before.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Bits of genius and some other worksBy aThe collection includes a couple of works that did very little for me. But that is more than made up for by Twain's ingenious Letters from the Earth. The work is several reports sent from Earth by archangel Satan to his colleagues back in heaven; Gabriel and Michael. Satan; in a style not unlike Twain's own travel reports from Europe; finds mystery in the human view of heaven; human ignorance of Earth; and why anyone would ever create such a retched being.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Mark Twain's special wasy of seeing the world in his times.By RandeeSo far have read parts here and there. I have to get used to way Mr. Twain writes. It's quite different than writers of today and of course; right for the time he lived in.
