Reconstruction and the Constitution, 1866-1876

Reconstruction and the Constitution, 1866-1876, written by John William Burgess and first published in 1902, provides a historical analysis of the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War. The book critiques the constitutional challenges of reintegrating Southern states into the Union and examines the various policies that emerged during this transformative period. Burgess emphasizes the importance of understanding the concept of a 'state' within a federal system and argues that both Northern and Southern states must recognize their roles in the failures of Reconstruction.