The Reconstruction Period

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses a chapter "Reconstruction, 1865-1877," of "Major Problems in American History" edited and arranged by Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman and Jon Gjerde. The paper questions why time was not devoted to presenting materials which might shed light on the curious elevation of Andrew Johnson to power by the Republican Party and by Abraham Lincoln. The paper ultimately calls into question Lincoln's previously unimpeachable political acumen as well as the strategic thinking of the Republican Party when it decided to champion Johnson's political career. The paper concludes that while this chapter is undeniably solid for the most part, it is strangely incomplete and leaves many questions unanswered.

From the Paper:

"One of the more startling things about the Reconstruction period is how a man like Andrew Johnson could have become president at such a critical juncture in the nation's history. Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman and Jon Gjerde's chapter entitled, "Reconstruction, 1865-1877," never really addresses this critical issue. The chapter, the first in the aforementioned authors' text, Major Problems in American History, is largely a compendium of documents which offer brief glimpses at how the Reconstruction period impacted African-Americans; the chapter also looks at Johnson's argument against African-American suffrage and at the arguments put forward by Republican Thaddeus Stevens in favor of widespread African-American suffrage - specifically Stevens' contention that the African-American majority needed full suffrage and the political power springing from it so that southern black men and women could protect themselves from harm. Finally, there is a brief passage in which Republican Benjamin Butler outlines why he feels Johnson should be impeached. All in all, the first eight pages of the first chapter touch upon several issues - but never is attention devoted to the matter of why Johnson acted as he did or why the Republican Party allowed him to gain such a position of power at a time when the Presidency was critical to the successful implementation of Reconstruction.

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs & Jon Gjerde. "Reconstruction: 1865-1877." Major Problems in American History, vol. II. Additional bibliographic information not provided by client.
• The White House. "Andrew Johnson." Past Presidents: Andrew Johnson. 2007. The White House (US Government). 18 Jan. 2007 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/aj17.html>

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