From the "preeminent historian of Reconstruction" (New York Times Book Review), an updated abridged edition of Reconstruction, the prize-winning classic work of Civil War history on the post-Civil War period which shaped modern America.

Reconstruction chronicles the way in which Americans -- black and white -- responded to the unprecedented changes unleashed by the war and the end of slavery, a pivotal era in African American history. It addresses the quest of emancipated slaves' searching for economic autonomy and equal citizenship, and describes the remodeling of Southern society; the evolution of racial attitudes and patterns of race relations; and the emergence of a national state possessing vastly expanded authority and one committed, for a time, to the principle of equal rights for all Americans.

This "masterful treatment of one of the most complex periods of American history" (New Republic) remains the standard work on the wrenching post-Civil War period -- an era of Southern history whose legacy still reverberates in the United States today.

Foner's definitive account examines every facet of this transformative period in U.S. history:

• The Centrality of the Black Experience: Follows the quest of emancipated slaves for economic autonomy and equal citizenship, treating them as active agents in the making of a new America.

• A Remodeled Southern Society: Investigates the evolution of racial attitudes, complex patterns of race relations, and the emergence of a new class structure from the ashes of the Old South.

• The Rise of the National State: Traces the emergence of a national government with vastly expanded authority, committed for a time to the principle of equal rights for all Americans.

• A Definitive Historical Account: Draws on the latest scholarship to overturn outdated interpretations and provide the standard work on one of the most complex and controversial eras of the American past.

• We started tracking this book on July 16, 2014.
• This book was $10.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 136 times in the past 4,221 days.
• The current price of this book is $8.99 last checked one hour ago.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $1.99.
• The lowest price to date was $1.99 last reached on December 23, 2025.
• This book has been $1.99 15 times since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $14.99 last reached on November 3, 2025.
• This book has been $14.99 9 times since we started tracking it.

• HistoryAmericasUnited States19th CenturyReconstruction
• HistoryUnited StatesCivil WarAbolition
• HistoryUnited States19th CenturyReconstruction
• HistoryAmericas

• Publication Date: January 6, 2015
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 329 Pages
• File Size: 74 KB