Cause: Reconstruction America 1863-1877 [Hardcover]

Tonya Bolden (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

After the destruction of the Civil War, the United States faced the immense challenge of rebuilding a ravaged South and incorporating millions of freed slaves into the life of the nation. On April 11, 1865, President Lincoln introduced his plan for reconstruction, warning that the coming years would be “fraught with great difficulty.” Three days later he was assassinated. The years to come witnessed a time of complex and controversial change.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up–This examination of America during Reconstruction covers Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the troubles of freed slaves, the expansion of the nation and the plight of Native Americans, the 15th Amendment, and the women's suffrage movement. While this is well-documented nonfiction, Bolden writes in the voice of a storyteller. The excellent graphics include archival photos, political cartoons, and primary resources. Lengthy captions explain each image and why it is included. Each chapter title is a quote, which personalizes the narrative but may confound report writers looking for specific information. For example, one chapter is titled, Why Is This, Ma? which refers to a question put to a black Memphis schoolteacher by one of her children over their poor treatment at a train depot; the chapter largely deals with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1875. Overall, this is a well-written and visually appealing title, but it's better for general-interest reading than for research.–Marianne Fitzgerald, Severna Park High School, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. Tackling the complex era of Reconstruction, Bolden presents a great deal of information about the history, politics, and society of the period. Constitutional amendments and social reform during Reconstruction brought legal rights and education to former slaves in the South, but the backlash against these changes led to unrest, violence, and, ultimately, a dark period of further oppression. Writing from an African American's perspective, Bolden handles the material in an evenhanded manner and backs up her assertions with facts, often quoting from primary and secondary sources. The many illustrations include reproductions of period photographs and prints accompanied by extensive, informative captions. A bibliography and source notes are appended. The occasional instance of imprecise or awkward phasing, such as "a bevy of legislation," "the litany of Reconstruction-era massacres," and "America's grandest celebration of herself the world had ever seen," detracts from the otherwise scholarly yet accessible tone of the text. A well-organized and well-reasoned account of Reconstruction, this book will serve as a rich resource for students researching the period, which has long been underrepresented in nonfiction for young people. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (December 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375827951
• ISBN-13: 978-0375827952
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.6 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,147,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting volume, December 1, 2006

By 

Cathy "Multicultural Book Reviewer" (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause: Reconstruction America 1863-1877 (Hardcover)

In a bold, storytelling style, Tonya Bolden addresses the Reconstruction era of post-Civil War America. This volume is well-researched and illustrated with many photos, graphics and numerous, sometimes lengthy, sidebars. Bolden not only discusses the situation of the former Confederate states, but also includes Native American and women's perspectives from the time. A drawback is the awkward wording of some sentences. The Notes Section is a rich resource for further research.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recommended, narrowed view of post-war changes, April 11, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause: Reconstruction America 1863-1877 (Hardcover)

The post-Civil War era in the U.S. was a time of many changes when slavery ended and borders began rapidly expanding. Cause: Reconstruction America 1863-1877 surveys the political and social climate which fueled and fostered these changes, considering the major influences and social issues of the times, and providing a liberal amount of vintage black and white photos to spice the presentation. A recommended, narrowed view of post-war changes, Cause will fit in well with any middle school Civil War history curriculum.