What are the best books on reconstruction?

by pog99

Namely the points I want outlined

  1. The efficiency of Reconstruction laws for African Americans.
  2. The nature of local and state politics in the South and their effects on blacks.
  3. Motivations and nature of lynching. (Found Brundage's book).
  4. Research on the culture of African Americans during this time while transitioning from slavery. Namely their means of employment, means of education, and health compared to whites
shelb_cobra38

A recent publication answers points 1 & 2, Eric Foner's The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution. Foner specifically details the debates and ramifications of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and the Supreme Court cases which (for the most part) narrowed the interpretation of the aforementioned amendments until the 1950s-1960s Civil Rights era. Foner also connects the immediate ramifications with the long term effects still evidenced today (mainly within recent SCOTUS decisions).

A work which mentions point 4 is Gender and Jim Crow: Women and the Politics of White Supremacy in North Carolina, 1896-1920 by Glenda E. Gilmore. Though the title, and the entirety of the work, focuses on the intersection of gender issues with Jim Crow "laws" Gilmore does a great job of outlining life during and after Reconstruction. An aspect I particularly remember is how African American communities in North Carolina thrived during the mid to late 1870s, which also contributed to the hard return to "slavery by another name" that was the Jim Crow South.

If you have more questions about either of these works let me know.

Kugelfang52

A Nation Under Our Feet stresses the politics of blacks that originated during the antebellum and stretched to Jim Crow. Not exactly what you mentioned, but an important refocusing of the narratives on black politics.