Historiography Refresher : Reconstruction Name: ____________________ Historiography Refresher : Reconstruction Traditional The first historians to write about the event(s) Progressive (and/or Marxist) Early 20th century Impacted by the Progressive movement of the early 1900s. Often looked at the economic causes of events or the economic disparities at play during a particular era Consensus Post WW2 - 1940s-50s Aimed to look at areas of unity and strength in American history as opposed to highlighting our differences New Left (and/or Social historians) Began in 1960s amid Social unrest (Civil Rights Mvmt, Vietnam) Much like the Progressives rejected the Traditional interpretations, the New Left rejected the Consensus interpretations. Often looked at groups that were often ignored: women, African Americans, American Indians, gays, Seen as more political active

The Causes of the Civil War How would a ______ historian interpret each of these events? The Causes of the Civil War The Civil War: Repressible or Irrepressible? Reconstruction How radical was Reconstruction? Traditional or Nationalist James Ford Rhodes Slavery was the cause of the war (inevitable) the war ended slavery and preserved the union Progressive and/or Marxist (Beard) Charles and Mary Beard War was a deeply rooted economic struggle btw industrial North and agrarian South “2nd American Rev” Vast implications in class relations – solidifies power of industrialists Consensus or Neonationalist (Wood) Nevins and Potter Unavoidable conflict between 2 societies: slave and free Moral, social, political, cultural & economic ties eroded btw sections of the country New Left and/or Social Historian (Zinn, Foner) Eric Foner North and South BOTH had a paranoid fear of disrupting their “way of life” North - Free labor movmt (Disliked slavery bc it could replace free labor – NOT bc slavery was “wrong”)) South - Viewed nature of factory system as inhuman Holt (Ethnocultual) - Erosion of 2 party system meant consensus existed over EVERYTHING else – BUT SLAVERY

The Causes of the Civil War How would a ______ historian interpret each of these events? The Causes of the Civil War Reconstruction Traditional or Nationalist James Ford Rhodes Slavery was the cause of the war (inevitable) the war ended slavery and preserved the union Progressive and/or Marxist (Beard) Charles and Mary Beard War was a deeply rooted economic struggle btw industrial North and agrarian South “2nd American Rev” Vast implications in class relations – solidifies power of industrialists Consensus or Neonationalist (Wood) Nevins and Potter Unavoidable conflict between 2 societies: slave and free Moral, social, political, cultural & economic ties eroded btw sections of the country New Left and/or Social Historian (Zinn, Foner) Eric Foner North and South BOTH had a paranoid fear of disrupting their “way of life” North - Free labor movmt (Disliked slavery bc it could replace free labor – NOT bc slavery was “wrong”)) South - Viewed nature of factory system as inhuman Holt (Ethnocultual) - Erosion of 2 party system meant consensus existed over EVERYTHING else – BUT SLAVERY Dunning/Burgess Sectional conciliation, influenced by theories of black racial inferiority (These guys were racists…don’t use them in your writing!!!) Reconstruction was forced by self-interested Northern Radical Republicans, Carpet baggers and scalawags Reconstruction failed bc inept people were in charge Beale Radicals exploited Southern labor resources, and their “concern” for freedman was really just in their own interest Radicals profited politically by forcing black suffrage in the South DW Griffith – Birth of a Nation REVISIONIST Stampp Noble attempt to extend American principles of equity, Rad Reps and carpetbaggers are heroes – Johnson a racist who resisted progress New Left: Benedict and Letwik - Rad Reps were not that radical, and that orgs like Freedman’s bureau merely allowed white planters to maintain dominance over politics and the economy (sharecropping, Jim Crow) Social Foner Reconstruction was radical, and radically different from other former slave societies – but still limited Blacks did form political orgs, churches and vote Full application of Constitutional principles- did not happen until the “2nd Reconstruction” in the Civil Rights era

Another way to talk about historiography can be more broad… without using the schools of history, but still recognizing the varying interpretations of events What were the consequences of the Civil War? Some historians have argued… While others have argued… Still others have concluded…

What were the consequences of the Civil War? Another way to talk about historiography can be more broad… without using the schools of history, but still recognizing the varying interpretations of events What were the consequences of the Civil War? Some historians have argued… (James McPherson) Civil War expanded the role of the Federal govt: 13th, 14th amendments Federal taxation Printing $ Nat’l bank Army Freedman’s Bureau = first social welfare program While others have argued… The Civil War was not a “watershed” Racial inequality Industrialization started in the Jackson era – not Post-war era Regional difference persisted, even til today! Still others have concluded… Cochran: Civil War actually slowed down industrialization