West From Appomattox : The Reconstruction of America After the Civil War

A sweeping story of how Northerners, Southerners, and Westerners together created modern America in the years from Abraham Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt. 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.

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.

the New York Times - Mark Lewis

…[richardson's] Main Emphasis Is Her Reworking Of Frederick Jackson Turner's Thesis That America Was Shaped By The Frontier Experience. To Richardson, It Was Americans' Romantic Image Of The West, More Than Their Actual Experience There, That Redefined The Nation During Reconstruction. By Idealizing The West, Americans Preserved Their Antebellum View Of Themselves As A Community Of Rugged Individualists. Thus Was Born The Blinkered Worldview Of The Modern Middle Class, Which Perceived Itself In Opposition To The Undeserving Poor And The Grasping Rich.

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, a labour 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 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. The author 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, the author tells a story about the creation of modern America “This thoughtful, engaging examination of the Reconstruction Era . . . will be appealing . . . to anyone interested in the roots of present-day American politics” (Publishers Weekly). The story of Reconstruction is not simply about the rebuilding of the South after the Civil War. In many ways, the late nineteenth century defined modern America, as Southerners, Northerners, and Westerners forged a national identity that united three very different regions into a country that could become a world power. A sweeping history of the United States from the era of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, this engaging book tracks the formation of the American middle class while stretching 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. By weaving together the experiences of real individuals who left records in their own words—from ordinary Americans such as a plantation mistress, a Native American warrior, and a labor organizer, to prominent historical figures such as Andrew Carnegie, Julia Ward Howe, Booker T. Washington, and Sitting Bull—Richardson tells a story about the creation of modern America. Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction 15 Chapter One. Spring 1865: The View from the Civil War 22 Chapter Two. 1865–1867: The Future of Free Labor 53 Chapter Three. 1868–1871: Conflicting Visions 92 Chapter Four. 1872: A New Middle Ground 135 Chapter Five. 1873–1880: Years of Unrest 162 Chapter Six. 1881–1885: Years of Consolidation 201 Chapter Seven. 1886–1892: The Struggle Renewed 245 Chapter Eight. 1893–1897: The Final Contest 288 Chapter Nine. 1898–1901: Reunion 321 Epilogue 357 Notes 367 Index 405 Heather Cox Richardson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [351]-388) And Index.