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Eric Foner
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Reconstruction, America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863 - 1877 Hardcover – January 1, 2005

by Eric. Foner (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 205 ratings
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  1. Los Angeles Times Book PrizeWinner, 1988
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American history
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  1. Part of series
    New American Nation
  2. Print length
    690 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    History Book Club
  5. Publication date
    January 1, 2005
  6. ISBN-10
    0965727017
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0965727013
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000RRGSZC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ History Book Club; First Edition, Thus (January 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 690 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0965727017
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0965727013
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 205 ratings

About the author

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Eric Foner

Eric Foner

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Eric Foner is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, where he earned his B.A. and Ph.D. In his teaching and scholarship, Foner focuses on the Civil War and Reconstruction, slavery, and nineteenth-century America. His "Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877," won the Bancroft, Parkman, and Los Angeles Times Book prizes and remains the standard history of the period. In 2006 Foner received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching at Columbia University. He has served as president of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Society of American Historians. He is currently writing a book on Lincoln and slavery.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
205 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and eye-opening. They appreciate the good information, comprehensive, and detailed account. Readers describe the narrative as powerful and able to move the story along. They also mention the book is surprisingly readable. Opinions are mixed on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and others saying it's hard to read and comprehend.

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Value for moneyInformation qualityStorytellingReadabilityWriting quality
22 customers mention "Value for money"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book compelling and eye-opening. They say it helps them write great reviews for history class. Readers also mention the story is complete, interesting, and revealing.

"...Both are masterpieces of synthesis and interpretation. Both are scholarly and detailed, yet convey a feeling of excitement at the events described...." Read more

"...The result is a very striking interpretation which completely rejects the old Dunning school of thought on this period...." Read more

"...accuracy evident in the work - it is dense, fact-filled and notated, a sampling of which I double checked personally...." Read more

"...In saying of of that, I feel this book was a worthwhile, torturous read." Read more

20 customers mention "Information quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the information in the book comprehensive and detailed. They appreciate the meticulous research and fine literary skill. Readers say it's the absolute best source on the topic and has helped them develop their understanding of this pivotal period in our nation.

"...Both are scholarly and detailed, yet convey a feeling of excitement at the events described...." Read more

"...This book has been a great help in developing my understanding of this pivotal period in our nation’s history...." Read more

"...doubt of the historical accuracy evident in the work - it is dense, fact-filled and notated, a sampling of which I double checked personally...." Read more

"...considerable time and reflection, but the author presents copious examples of documentary evidence that illustrates how the incomplete passage of..." Read more

8 customers mention "Storytelling"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative powerful and readable. They describe the book as comprehensive, clear, and well-written.

"...This is in fact a riveting story but that is somewhat muted by the focus on details. The details are important of course...." Read more

"...But, that's not a serious complaint because he is able to move the story along. And, the story he tells is complete, compelling and eye opening...." Read more

"...Perhaps you do. Needless to say, Foner's history is very comprehensive, covering the vast landscape of the period and the many parts to consider,..." Read more

"...Very well written. Top-notch history." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book surprisingly readable and powerful. They say it provides insight into various cultures and is a good read about a difficult time in U.S. history.

"...In saying of of that, I feel this book was a worthwhile, torturous read." Read more

"...This book is surprisingly readable, and gives insight into the various cultures -- black, white, northern, southern, born free and just freed...." Read more

"A good read about a difficult time in U.S. history...." Read more

"Painful but essential reading for Americans interested in our history..." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book. Some mention it's well-written, while others say it's hard to read and comprehend.

"...It sort of bogged down the reading, but it did make it clear that he was not making up information, but working with these primary sources from the..." Read more

"The material is wonderful and the writing is reasonable. Very worth reading.What's needed here, however, is a better sense of story...." Read more

"...the Republican Party, by the way, is as just thorough and just as hard to read...." Read more

"...These stories are often very painful to read. It's was hard for me to see how disgraceful this chapter in our history was...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Steven Farron
5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2008
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This book, along with Foner's Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men, provides extremely valuable insights into a crucial turning point in American history, which still resonates today. Both are masterpieces of synthesis and interpretation. Both are scholarly and detailed, yet convey a feeling of excitement at the events described. Both enable the reader to relive the tensions, aspirations, thoughts, and struggles of the times they describe.
Foner was a Marxist-Leninist when he wrote both books. But he never allowed his Marxism to vitiate his historical analysis. On the contrary, he constantly emphasized that the motives that propelled the participants were ideas and ideals, not economic interest or social class (e.g., pages 233-4, 468-70, 486-7). Moreover, he pointed out (page xxv) that during Reconstruction "Americans made their first attempt to live up to the noble professions of their political creed - something few societies have ever done:" and (page 279) "Alone among the nations that abolished slavery in the nineteenth century, the United States, within a few years of emancipation, clothed its former slaves with citizen rights equal to those of whites."
I am not competent to comment on Foner's historical accuracy. But most professional historians regard this book as a milestone in Reconstruction analysis. I could find only one inaccuracy. Foner says (pages 18-20) that the Civil War caused unprecedented economic growth in the North. Walter McDougal in The Throes of Democracy (pages 494-5) adduces evidence and cites distinguished historians that the Civil War retarded economic progress in the North. However, this is peripheral to Foner's book.
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gloine36
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent exploration of a very dark period in American History.
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2015
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I have to confess that I read this book as part of the three course Civil War and Reconstruction series that Professor Foner delivered via EdX from 2014-2015. The final week of the third course began Wednesday, April 22nd. This has been an outstanding series of courses and really illustrates how a MOOC can be effective in delivering information to a large number of active learners. However, these MOOCs fall short of college credit for several reasons. I found that this particular series was useful as I read some of the suggested reading with them such as Foner’s The Fiery Trial of Abraham Lincoln and Reconstruction.

I really dislike this period of history. It is dark and gloomy compared with the brightness other periods have. Yet, in reading Reconstruction I see where we have to understand what happened following the Civil War in order to understand how America got to where it is. This book has been a great help in developing my understanding of this pivotal period in our nation’s history. It is full of information and uses a plethora of sources to support the author’s interpretation. In addition, the version I read was the Perennial Classics imprint and it had footnotes with it. That was very useful because Foner’s notes contained some nice comments and explained his thought process in ways the narrative did not.

Having read a few of Foner’s works, I can say that his writing style has definitely changed for the better over time. I find this is common with many historians. Their earlier works are still that of graduate students writing for an academic audience whereas their writing will change over time to the telling of a story supported by facts. They get better at writing for a larger audience and Eric Foner has been one historian who has accomplished this. Not all do, sad to say. I have to admit that this book was a bit difficult because of the way Foner used the facts in the narrative. It sort of bogged down the reading, but it did make it clear that he was not making up information, but working with these primary sources from the beginning.

The result is a very striking interpretation which completely rejects the old Dunning school of thought on this period. The overt racism is at times nauseating to read about. Thousands were murdered as whites sought to regain political control over the southern states. Terrorism was widespread as rifle clubs, the KKK, and other bands of whites used any means available to regain power and to put white supremacy back as the foundation of southern living. This is a very important issue that needs to be explained to our students as we deal with terrorism from Islamic fundamentalists in our modern age. The past is very illuminating.

Were I to teach a course on Reconstruction I would certainly use this book as the textbook. For that matter, I would use Foner’s course on it as the template for my lesson plans. That would fit very well into a flipped classroom design. While the book can be dry at times, breaking the reading down into segments built around lesson plans works well in helping readers absorb the information. There is a lot here in the book and it seriously conflicts with long held beliefs on Reconstruction.

Foner also notes how events in the rest of the US shaped Reconstruction and its end. This is important because the events that took place in this period were not confined to one area. Yet, Reconstruction or more importantly its end would shape the South for a century in ways that did not overly impact the rest of the nation. The economic disaster that was the South was created by the elites in the South who preferred political power and its trappings for themselves rather than posterity for the people of the South. To achieve this, they used racism to construct their political empires.

Foner also goes into the larger reasons as to why Reconstruction failed. Economics played a major role in this as well as racism in the entire country. Class interests in other sections precluded a shared national goal for all minorities as elites brought in cheap immigrant labor to the North instead of moving black laborers to the factories or factories to the South. I think Foner needed to explore this more because the elites in the South did not want those factories nor did they want their cheap black labor to move away from the agrarian system in place. He alludes to this system, but does not explore it in depth. I think there is a lot more to this, but much of it took place after 1877 and the end of Reconstruction.

All in all, this is a good book and one which I am glad I read. I definitely am happy that I did so in conjunction with the Reconstruction course through EdX. It definitely helped out. I will be referencing the book in my Fall 2015 American History from 1865 course as I show how Reconstruction and its aftermath led directly to events in the Civil Rights era and even today. I give it four stars which is a good solid rating for a good solid book.
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Jeremy A. Perron
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT AND SHATTERED DREAMS
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2011
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The Reconstruction Period in American history is the era that is probably the most misunderstood. The view of this historical event has taken such a complete and utter transformation as historians have been interpreting and reinterpreting it over the years that truth is often hard to separate from the myth. Half way through the Civil War the U.S. government needs to come up with a way to bring back the rebel states into the Union on the government's terms. The people for whom this would have the most impact would be the newly freed slaves. Reconstruction would see the dream of the slaves become, for a moment, a reality only to have it cruelly stanched away again. It would take almost a hundred years to correct what went wrong and to re-start the movement towards equality. In my march through the ages of American history this chapter is one of the more interesting and most painful.

With the capture of Richmond and Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the Civil War had ended and the Confederacy was no more. The mood--for the North--was cheerful and although the South was upset for having lost, most of the Southern white population were also glad for the war's end. For those whose life had been spent in bondage what had happened was truly a miracle. The whole world had changed and apparently it had changed for the better, not only were the people who had been slaves liberated but members of their own race had played a critical part in the victory and they looked to play a part in the peace.

"The presence of black troops among the occupying Union army reinforced the freedmen's assertiveness and inspired constant complaint on the part of whites. Black soldiers acted, in words of the New York World, as 'apostles of black equality,' spreading among former slaves ideas of land ownership and civil and political equality. They intervened in plantation disputes and sometimes arrested whites. ('It is very hard,' wrote a Confederate veteran, 'to see a white man taken under guard by one of those black scoundrels.') Black troops helped construct schools, churches, and orphanages, organized debating societies, and held political gatherings where 'freedom songs' were sung and soldiers delivered 'speeches of the most inflammatory kind.' In Southern cities they demanded the right to travel on segregated streetcars, taunted white passersby with remarks like 'We's all equal now,' and advised freedmen in cities like Memphis that they need not obey military orders to return to the plantations." p.80

Lincoln's assassination brought his incompetent successor, Andrew Johnson, to power. Johnson was inflexible where his predecessor was flexible, and although he was following Lincoln's own plan initially, he forgot that the key to Lincoln's success was his ability to listen and adapt when necessary to achieve his goal. Johnson would become the main obstacle to reform. The Radicals in Congress managed to fight the new President by overriding his vetoes*. The Radicals did over reach by attacking the presidency itself, not just the President, when they passed the Tender in Office Act and tried to impeach Johnson when he did not comply. Johnson's impeachment divided their ranks and spent unnecessary energy. Johnson was acquitted but not elected nor nominated in his own right. Grant would win the election of 1868and Reconstruction would continue.

One of the best things Grant did was send Federal troops to fight the Ku Klux Klan who had been terrorizing newly freed and enfranchised African-Americans. Foner describes these villains in some detail. Monsters and cowards who dressed in costumes and went out to harass and kill people who were just trying to live.

"But the most 'offensive' blacks of all seemed to be those who achieved a modicum of economic success, for, as a white Mississippi farmer commented, the Klan 'do not like to see the negro go ahead.' Night riders in Florence, South Carolina, killed a freedman on one plantation 'because it is rented by colored men, and their desire is that such a thing ought not to be.'" p.429

Unfortunately, as time went on and success was slow, the Northern focus waned. Other issues came up and diverted the Federal government's attention. The most devastating was the Depression that would hit in 1873. It would cause labor unrest and would serve as one of the death blows in the struggle for freedom in the nineteenth century South.

"The depression had a profound impact on the labor movement, shifting its focus from the issues of the 1860s--greenbackism, cooperation, and the eight-hour day--to demands for pubic relief, the desperate struggle to maintain predepression wage levels, and, for a few workers, socialism. In the winter of 1873-74, cities from Boston to Chicago witnessed massive demonstrations demanding that authorities ease the economic crisis by inaugurating such projects as street and parking improvements and new rapid transit systems--a remarkable expansion of labor's conception of governments roles and responsibilities. The movement for 'Work or Bread' reached its climax in New York, where on January 13, 1874, the city police violently dispersed a crowd of 7,000 demonstrators who had assembled at Tompkins Square, arrested scores of workers, and inaugurated a period of 'extreme repression' against subsequent labor gatherings." p.514

These events, in addition to corruption, damaged the Republican Party to the point where they lost the House of Representatives in the 1874 mid-term elections. The major blow to Reconstruction would be the presidential election of 1876. The controversy of the election between Governors Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden would result in an outcome that would be known as the `Great Betrayal' in the black community for decades to come. Hayes would win the presidency but at the cost of Reconstruction. Reconstruction would end and the white South would begin the vileness Jim Crow Era in which a people who had been enslaved--but were set free, could vote, and hold office as citizens in the Republic--were disenfranchised, segregated, and improvised.

Eric Foner covers an experiment that was only bad because it had failed not because it was attempted. Reconstruction was an attempt to do justice where only injustice had been done and help move us forward as a nation. As a consequence one geographical section of the nation went backward in race relations, internal improvements, and educational establishments, while the rest of the country moved forward. Eric Foner's work is a masterpiece it covers not only what I have discussed here but it also discusses the break between the old abolitionists and the suffragists. Neglecting the cause of (white) women's important need for the vote, the early feminists felt betrayed by the abolitionists and their coalition crumble. Another area that Foner covers in this book is the rise of the giant corporation and how they would form a hold on government. With this book Eric Foner separates myth from fact and paints an accurate picture of the United States during Reconstruction.

*No president who had served prior to Andrew Johnson had ever had their vetoes overridden.
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Top reviews from other countries

S Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterly History of Reconstruction
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2009
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Foners excellent book is a masterfull historical synthesis of the period known as Reconstruction after the American Civil War (1861-65).

The book is extremely readable, comprehensive and full of intelligent analysis of the social, cultural, racial and economic forces of the era amply illustrated with pertinent quotes from all those involved. The situation after the end of the civil war when the defeated south was occupied by the Union Army is one that I knew little about before reading this book, but that proved to be no obstacle to engaging with Foners well written book.

He pictures the position of the freed Slaves, the Confederate south and the Union North with great skill; not simplifying or glossing over nuances but presenting a full picture of all the forces, pressures and ideologies that clashed within that era. The plight of the freed blacks, and their frustrations in attempting to claim a full political, social and economic role within the post civil war United States is particularly harrowing and frustrating for anyone with a sense of fairness. The level of white violence which goes beyond the Ku Klux Klan to a fair proportion of the southern Democratic party is sickening, I had no idea at how pervasive and murderous it was.

It is definitely worth getting holding of, and if you can't stomach the 600 pages of the unabridged edition (or have a weak wrist) then there is a shorter version available too - A Short History of Reconstruction. I look forward to getting my hands on other works by Eric Foner.
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G. B
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent detailed account of Reconstruction.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2010
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This book was practically my bible for American Reconstruction when I was an undergraduate. It assesses the era from 1863-77 in great detail, rejecting the early prejudiced Dunning School interpretation, and the post-revisionist studies of the 70s and 80s, which viewed the Republicans as inherently conservative in their approach to Reconstruction.

Foner's own view is something closer to a revisionist. He views the freed slaves as active, central participants in the story of Reconstruction, and emphasises the dramatic social change that occurred in both the North and the South at this time.

He does seem to favour social history, but because the study is so extensive there is plenty of political narrative for the political historian (such as myself) as well.
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Zenouf the Birdcatcher
5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional overview.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2014
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The Reconstruction era is one of the most contentious periods in American history. This book examines the issues clearly with a fine academic rigour. The issues surrounding the reintegration of the devastated South live on in contemporary American politics. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of it.
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meredydd78
3.0 out of 5 stars Worthy but not gripping.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2014
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A very comprehensive examination of all the problems and issues associated with Reconstruction. An excellent text book and reference source, however, as I had come to "Reconstruction" on the back of the superb "Battle Cry Freedom" I was disappointed. It lacks the creative and literary spark of a top class read. So worthy but not gripping.
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Cowley
2.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive but difficult
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2014
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I found this book difficult to read because it is overly wordy and far too long. It would have benefited from a good editor, been far shorter with briefer chapters with a clearer, more precise and a sharper description of events. The subject is both important and fascinating but, in the authors hands, it is dull.
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