William Archibald Dunning (1857–1922)

I know very little about Reconstruction, or really about American history in general, despite being a life-long citizen. Reading this book really helped me fill in a key period.

On the back of the book, a blurb calls the book a "statement of the conservative position" - I am not sure why that would be! I should read some more books to get different perspectives. Anyway I didn't detect any strong bias in my reading.

The book was first published in 1907. The language is definitely dated. But it just adds to the pleasure of reading and hardly disturbs the smooth flow.

The book covers mostly the two terms of President Grant. The radicals under Grant were able to suppress the power of the white rebels in the South and promote the power of the newly freed blacks. At the election of Hayes, the radicals were able to keep power in the federal government but ceded their positions in the South.

Dunning does not present any positive view of the capabilities of the newly freed blacks. Perhaps this is a core plank in his conservative position. No doubt their status as slaves didn't do much for their educational prospects and training for political office.

The stories that Dunning tells of the fights over election results etc., e.g. competing governors inaugurated by competing state legislatures... I had very little idea that our history contained that level of chaos!

This book is a great fun read. It consistently gives narrative momentum to the facts. I am not much of a history buff so it might be a while before I read more about this topic. But I feel very well served by dipping my toe into this particular little pool of the great river.… (mehr)