Reconstruction Sources, please?

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Would someone please point me in the direction of good information about the Reconstruction? I read something this morning that said the successionist states had to ratify the 14th Amendment before they were "allowed" to rejoin the Union. This didn't make a lot of sense to me, as my understanding is that it was the Union's position that the States in rebellion never actually left the Union (thus giving Lincoln jurisdiction to free their slaves). If they were forced to "rejoin", at the point of a gun by nature of their losing the war, how could criteria be set to "allow" them to rejoin that which they never left?

Aye, it gets confusing, quickly. I'm not looking to start a discussion on the Reconstruction here, just looking for sources of info.

Thanks,

AnnieLee

[St. George]

Try these:

"The Angry Scar: The Story of Reconstruction" - Hodding Carter

Drawn from diaries, newspaper articles and correspondence of the times - with contemporary comment.


"Destruction and Reconstruction" - Richard Taylor, Lieutenant General, CSA

Described by Douglas Southall Freeman - author of "Lee's Lieutenants" - as "the one Confederate General who possessed literary art that approached first rank."
Written as a memoir first published in 1879 - the final chapters deal with Reconstruction.

Good Luck.

Scouts Out!

[US Scout]

Eric Foner is an acknowledged academic authority on Reconstruction.  There are both full length and condensed versions of his book "Reconstruction" - I recommend the latter. 

"Reconstruction after the Civil War" by John Hope Franklin is more readable than Foner.

"Ordeal by Fire" by James McPherson is probably a good choice though I haven't read it.  McPherson is an outstanding historian and writes well.

I'm reading Taylor's "Destruction and Reconstruction" right now - should finish it tomorrow.  He only spends a little time on Reconstruction but he is an entertaining read.

There are also books on reconstruction in individual states such as Texas, Louisiana, etc. so you may want to do a search (google, amazon, etc) if you have an interest in a particular state.  I read a couple on Texas though I can't remember the titles off hand.

States had to elect a new government (legislature, governor, senators, and representatives) under Federal supervision before they were permitted to regain the full state status.  Some states, such as Tennessee, did it before the war was even over.  Others, such as Texas, were kept under Federal occupation and a military governor into the early 70s.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Thank you! I've put in an order for the Taylor and abridged Foner. I'd like Hodding's, but it's out of print so I'll have to search further.

With warm regards,

AnnieLee