West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War [Hardcover]

Professor Heather Cox Richardson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0300110529 | ISBN-13: 978-0300110524 | Edition: annotated edition

The story of Reconstruction is not simply about the rebuilding of the South after the Civil War.  Instead, the late nineteenth century defined modern America, as Southerners, Northerners, and Westerners gradually hammered out a national identity that united three regions into a country that could become a world power. Ultimately, the story of Reconstruction is about how a middle class formed in America and how its members defined what the nation would stand for, both at home and abroad, for the next century and beyond.
A sweeping history of the United States from the era of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, this engaging book stretches the boundaries of our understanding of Reconstruction. Historian Heather Cox Richardson ties the North and West into the post–Civil War story that usually focuses narrowly on the South, encompassing the significant people and events of this profoundly important era.
By weaving together the experiences of real individuals—from a plantation mistress, a Native American warrior, and a labor organizer to Andrew Carnegie, Julia Ward Howe, Booker T. Washington, and Sitting Bull—who lived during the decades following the Civil War and who left records in their own words, Richardson tells a story about the creation of modern America.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This thoughtful, engaging examination of the Reconstruction Era began as a way for author and historian Richardson to understand the deep divide-over issues like taxes, size of government and the influence of special interests-that still separate "red states" from "blue states." Richardson's persuasive thesis is that the Reconstruction, rather than the Civil War itself, is the place to look for guidance through these thorny problems. Beginning with a dramatic retelling of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Va., Richardson immerses readers in the issues faced by Americans trying to restore the Union on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line. Although her research is primarily informed by a social approach to history, Richadrson strikes a fine balance between the everyman experience and the trials of famous leaders. And because Richardson views Reconstruction as fundamental to the shape of contemporary America, she makes this period not only engaging but utterly relevant. This title will be appealing, therefore, not only to those interested in 19th century American history or the Civil War, but also to anyone interested in the roots of present-day American politics.
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Review

“Richardson tells a different story about the United States as a whole during a reconceptualized period of ‘Reconstruction’ after the Civil War.”—Sheldon Hackney, University of Pennsylvania

 

(Sheldon Hackney )

“Highly original, deeply researched, and important, West from Appomattox has the added advantage of being extremely well written:  Heather Cox Richardson’s prose is clear, accessible, and compelling.”—Eric Arnesen, University of Illinois at Chicago

(Eric Arnesen )

"With a marvelous sense of scope, narrative lucidity, and thorough research, Heather Richardson makes the convincing case that Americans still live in the world that Reconstruction built—or left partly unbuilt. A skilled historian of political economy, Richardson has here written a new and important synthesis of late-nineteenth-century American society enmeshed in a great struggle to determine just what kind of country the Civil War had wrought. This book is deeply informed and a good read; it spurs our effort to help Americans realize that their reading must not stop with Appomattox."—David W. Blight, Yale University, author of Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory

(David W. Blight )

"A truly fresh reconsideration—and a smart and wonderfully written one—of Reconstruction. Richardson pulls back to a genuinely national perspective, and in doing so gives us a strikingly original view of this vitally important time in the national story."—Elliott West, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

(Elliott West )

"Vibrant, fast-moving. . . . A provocative and succinct narrative."—David A. Lincove, The Historian

(David A. Lincove The Historian )

"This is political history writ large, complete with a cast of characters that reflects the diversity of the American population...Historians of Reconstruction and the Gilded Age cannot afford to it ognore this book or fail to wrestle with the artgument."--Brooks D, Simpson, The Journal of American History.

(Brooks D, Simpson The Journal of American History )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; annotated edition edition (March 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300110529
• ISBN-13: 978-0300110524
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and unique, April 18, 2007

By 

James W. Durney (Tampa Bay area) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War (Hardcover)

Conventional history teaches that Reconstruction failed due to racism and apathy, while viewing it as a Southern issue. Heather Cox Richardson moves Reconstruction into mainstream America, viewing it not as a Southern issue but as part of national development and westward expansion. Doing this transforms the thin gruel of reconstruction history into a complex, layered dish full of unexpected and very new treats. Reconstruction changes from a fight between President and Congress, to an issue that challenges America's ideals and is national in scope.

This book links Reconstruction, westward expansion, questions on suffrage, controlling business, tariffs and the development of the middle class into one coherent movement. This is modern inclusive history, as it should be written! Nat Love, child of ex-slaves, cowboy and Pullman porter, Samuel Gompers, Andrew Carnegie, Julia Ward Howe, Wade Hampton, Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull and many others populate the book. They are included not to be inclusive but because they have something to say. In every case, they help with the narration by personalizing history and making the national problem a personal one. The result is a fuller richer picture of America and the development of American ideals from 1865 to 1901.

The author, an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, is not the conservative member of the university staff. Her politics show up as sympathy for the labor movement, African Americans and/or Native Americans. For the most part, this is neither excessive nor detracts from the fairness of the narration. The exception is in the Epilogue where she attacks the policies of Presidents Regan and Bush. If you share her liberal politics, this will be the highpoint of the book for you. If you do not, stop reading when you reach the Epilogue and close the book. You will have read a very thought provoking history presenting a detailed and unique view of America and Reconstruction.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars US History, 1865 to circa 1901, October 20, 2007

By 

CJ (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War (Hardcover)

The period of US History between the US civil war and the Theodore Roosevelt administration is currently an extremely overlooked period, and it is nice to see a book that takes a good look at this time frame. You can see the starts of many aspects of US life in the twentieth century that began in this both relatively peaceful era (at least compare to other time periods) where various "special interests" began to take shape - the women's movement, large corporations/"trusts", African Americans, etc. Richardson's thesis is that the individuals who came out on top by Roosevelt's presidency was a rather nebulous group known as the middle class -mostly white, mostly male, mostly owning a small but definite chunk of the US economy (small businesses, farms, etc.).
A few things you should know before reading this book. First of all, this is a pretty general survery of late 19th century America squished into 360 pages- it does not focus on westward expansion specifically, nor the southeast US, as the title may make you think. Richardson picks notable individuals that span the race and economic spectrum. It is the breadth rather than depth that is both this book's main strength AND weakness. As far as bias is concerned, I would disagree with other reviewers in that there's any obvious liberal bias - her coverage of the haymarket riots, for example. If anything, she is biased towards the middle class in this book. Her epilogue bashing Reagan as a pseudo-cowboy was surprising to me.
In terms of flow, at some points its very nice, at other times it is as stiff as a college textbook (I could easily see this being a part of a junior/senior undergraduate course).
I'm glad I read this book, and I recommend it, despite some flaws.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good review of Reconstruction and westward expansion, July 1, 2007

By 

Shawn S. Sullivan (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War (Hardcover)

Heather Cox Richardson's West from Appomattox covers a period of history that has been seemingly rather ignored by contemporary historians, namely the Reconstruction period and westward expansion in the mid to late 1800s. Cox synthesizes much history and puts it into its broader context quite well. Much of her writing is academic in nature and not of the narrative form many readers of recent historical accounts have come to expect. Specifically, Richardson studied under the master of this period, David Herbert Donald. While the breadth of her research and knowledge is as impressive as any, her ability to convey the information in a way that brings in any person with even a passing interest in the topic is not her strength. I think she has much to say and, should she want to write history in a form other than a graduate text level, she would be well served to read how David Kennedy, David Herbert Donald, James McPherson or even Doris Kearns Goodwin actually write. That said, those who would like to really bone up on what changes the United States went through from 1865 to 1900, predominately politically and somewhat economically, would be well advised to read this book.