The Ordeal of the Reunion: A New History of Reconstruction (The Littlefield History of the Civil War Era)

For a generation, scholarship on the Reconstruction era has rightly focused on the struggles of the recently emancipated for a meaningful freedom and defined its success or failure largely in those terms. In The Ordeal of the Reunion , Mark Wahlgren Summers goes beyond this vitally important question, focusing on Reconstruction's need to form an enduring Union without sacrificing the framework of federalism and republican democracy. Assessing the era nationally, Summers emphasizes the variety of conservative strains that confined the scope of change, highlights the war's impact and its aftermath, and brings the West and foreign policy into an integrated narrative. In sum, this book offers a fresh explanation for Reconstruction's demise and a case for its essential successes as well as its great failures. Indeed, this book demonstrates the extent to which the victors' aims in 1865 were met--and at what cost. Summers depicts not just a heroic, tragic moment with equal rights advanced and then betrayed but a time of achievement and consolidation, in which nationhood and emancipation were placed beyond repeal and the groundwork was laid for a stronger, if not better, America to come. For A Generation, Scholarship On The Reconstruction Era Has Rightly Focused On The Struggles Of The Recently Enslaved For A Meaningful Freedom And Defined Its Success Or Failure Largely In Those Terms. Summers Goes Beyond This Vitally Important Question, Focusing On Reconstruction's Need To Form An Enduring Union Without Sacrificing The Framework Of Federalism And Republican Democracy. This Book Offers A Fresh Explanation For Reconstruction's Demise And A Case For Its Essential Successes As Well As Its Great Failures. Indeed, This Book Demonstrates The Extent To Which The Victors' Aims In 1865 Were Met--and At What Cost-- Introduction -- The Great Unfinished Task Remaining Before Us -- When This Cruel Peace Is Over -- Restoration, 1865-1866 -- Reconstruction At Last, 1865-1867 -- Bottom Rail On Top, 1867 -- The Critical Year : 1868 -- Two Failed Peace Policies -- Conquered Provinces -- Passage To India : Unmanifested Destiny -- On Every Putrid Spot -- Georgia On Their Mind, 1870-1871 -- Corruption Is The Fashion -- Clasping Hands Over The Bloody Chasm -- Dead Sea Fruits, 1872-1874 -- Redeemer Nation -- Last Full Measure Of Defection. By Mark Wahlgren Summers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 455-499) And Index. "For a generation, scholarship on the Reconstruction era has rightly focused on the struggles of the recently enslaved for a meaningful freedom and defined its success or failure largely in those terms. Summers goes beyond this vitally important question, focusing on Reconstruction's need to form an enduring Union without sacrificing the framework of federalism and republican democracy. This book offers a fresh explanation for Reconstruction's demise and a case for its essential successes as well as its great failures. Indeed, this book demonstrates the extent to which the victors' aims in 1865 were met--and at what cost"-- Provided by publisher Subject: "For a generation, scholarship on the Reconstruction era has rightly focused on the struggles of the recently enslaved for a meaningful freedom and defined its success or failure largely in those terms. Summers goes beyond this vitally important question, focusing on Reconstruction's need to form an enduring Union without sacrificing the framework of federalism and republican democracy. This book offers a fresh explanation for Reconstruction's demise and a case for its essential successes as well as its great failures. Indeed, this book demonstrates the extent to which the victors' aims in 1865 were met--and at what cost" Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction The Great Unfinished TaskRemaining before Us 2. When This Cruel Peace Is Over 3. Restoration, 1865–1866 4. Reconstruction at Last, 1865 – 1867 5. Bottom Rail on Top, 1867 6. The Critical Year: 1868 7. Two Failed Peace Policies 8. Conquered Provinces 9. Passage to India? 10. On Every Putrid Spot 11. Georgia on Their Minds, 1870 – 1871 12. Corruption Is the Fashion 13. Clasping Hands Over the Bloody Chasm 14. Dead Sea Fruits, 1872 – 1874 15. Redeemer Nation 16. Last Full Measure of Defection Coda Notes Bibliography Index For the past several decades, scholarship on the Reconstruction era has placed the struggles of the recently enslaved for a meaningful freedom at the centre of discussions about the period's policies, successes, and failures. But this book synthesises and reorients the existing scholarship to focus on the loyal citizenry that imposed Reconstruction and the defeated Confederates who had to come to terms with it