Historical Dictionary of Reconstruction

(Hardback)

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This reference book reflects recent scholarship regarding the Reconstruction of the American South following the Civil War. In the past four decades, the guidelines set forth by William D. Dunning and his students, which portrayed the period as a time of horror for suffering Southerners over whom radicals, scalawags, and carpetbaggers rode roughshod, has been amended. Since World War II, the appearance of revised versions of the period, as well as favourable biographies of such major figures as Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens, Benjamin F. Wade, Edwin M. Stanton, and George W. Julian, have transformed the historiographty of Reconstruction. While many unresolved issues still remain, the field has benefitted greatlly from this reassessment. Hence, this single-volume reference, containing the most recent thinking on the period, ashould be of great help to scholars and the general public. The dictionary stresses race relations, emancipation, the main participants in the struggle, and the restoration of the Southern states into the Union. Those states involved in some way or other in the process, including the boarder commonwealths, are found here, as are the major Supreme Court decisions handed down during Reconstruction. Articles at each entry convey the principle information in an economical style and are followed in each case by a listing of available literature, principally monographs and books rather than articles, in order to facilitate further research. Covering a time period from 1862 to 1896, the dictionary focuses on matters pertaining to the integration of freedmen and the restoration of the states. The preface and chronology of events preceed the conveniently organized dictionary section, which contains entries whose lengths vary depending on the relative importance of the concept of personality treated. Generally, the importance of individuals in reference to Reconstruction, rather than their general significance, has determined their inclusion. Each entry is followed by its own bibliography.

Reviews

. . . Trefousse's Historical Dictionary of Reconstruction zooms in on the 1862-96 period of North- South relations, from the appointment of military governors in several vanquished southern states to the Supreme Court's support for racial segregation in the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson case. Articles on prominent politicians, soldiers, authors, and reformers; on rebel and border states; on political organizations; and on major concepts relating to the restoration of the rebellious states and the treatment of freed slaves present the era's highlights. Like any other, the Reconstruction era is open to interpretation, and Trefousse notes the varying interpretations given over the past century to matters such as the role of the scalawags or the Supreme Court's willingness to agree with Congress. This specialized dictionary supplements and complements the general-purpose works cited above, providing important information on how various events and persons helped shape an era that, especially in its legacy of racial inequality, continues to affect American society today.-Wilson Library Bulletin
Perhaps no other period in American history has undergone more major reinterpretation than the Reconstruction era. Distinguished Reconstruction historian Trefousse has assembled in dictionary format nearly 250 entries, many over 1,000 words long, dealing with current research on major personalities of Reconstruction, principal issues of the period, and ideas current at the time. Entries focus on the years from 1863 to 1877, but actually start at 1862 and extend to 1896. In the earlier and later periods, however, only concepts, ideas, and personalities affecting the Reconstruction process are presented. Articles are objectively written and have numerous cross-references. A list of the latest available literature, principally monographs and biographies, appears at the end of each entry. A detailed chronology of Reconstruction, a selected bibliography, and a good index facilitate access to information. This is a comprehensive specialized reference tool designed primarily for advanced college and university students and professional historians.-Choice
This reference book by well-known Reconstruction expert Trefousse will be of great use to scholars and general readers. Pithy, readable articles, spanning the years 1862-96, reflect current scholarship on the period and thus focus on heavily on race relations, the freed slaves, and restoration of the states. There are entries on court cases, terms ("blacks," "labor," etc.), organizations, states, laws, miscellaneous events, and major individuals. Articles on individuals concentrate on their Reconstruction-related rather than general significance. Cross-references and bibliographies for every entry enhance the book's usefulness. As the only reference work of its type, it should find widespread applicability in libraries of any size.-Library Journal
"Perhaps no other period in American history has undergone more major reinterpretation than the Reconstruction era. Distinguished Reconstruction historian Trefousse has assembled in dictionary format nearly 250 entries, many over 1,000 words long, dealing with current research on major personalities of Reconstruction, principal issues of the period, and ideas current at the time. Entries focus on the years from 1863 to 1877, but actually start at 1862 and extend to 1896. In the earlier and later periods, however, only concepts, ideas, and personalities affecting the Reconstruction process are presented. Articles are objectively written and have numerous cross-references. A list of the latest available literature, principally monographs and biographies, appears at the end of each entry. A detailed chronology of Reconstruction, a selected bibliography, and a good index facilitate access to information. This is a comprehensive specialized reference tool designed primarily for advanced college and university students and professional historians."-Choice
"This reference book by well-known Reconstruction expert Trefousse will be of great use to scholars and general readers. Pithy, readable articles, spanning the years 1862-96, reflect current scholarship on the period and thus focus on heavily on race relations, the freed slaves, and restoration of the states. There are entries on court cases, terms ("blacks," "labor," etc.), organizations, states, laws, miscellaneous events, and major individuals. Articles on individuals concentrate on their Reconstruction-related rather than general significance. Cross-references and bibliographies for every entry enhance the book's usefulness. As the only reference work of its type, it should find widespread applicability in libraries of any size."-Library Journal
." . . Trefousse's Historical Dictionary of Reconstruction zooms in on the 1862-96 period of North- South relations, from the appointment of military governors in several vanquished southern states to the Supreme Court's support for racial segregation in the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson case. Articles on prominent politicians, soldiers, authors, and reformers; on rebel and border states; on political organizations; and on major concepts relating to the restoration of the rebellious states and the treatment of freed slaves present the era's highlights. Like any other, the Reconstruction era is open to interpretation, and Trefousse notes the varying interpretations given over the past century to matters such as the role of the scalawags or the Supreme Court's willingness to agree with Congress. This specialized dictionary supplements and complements the general-purpose works cited above, providing important information on how various events and persons helped shape an era that, especially in its legacy of racial inequality, continues to affect American society today."-Wilson Library Bulletin

Author Bio

HANS L. TREFOUSSE is Distinguished Professor of History at Brooklyn College and Graduate Center at CUNY. He has written and published widely on Civil War issues for various periodicals. His previously published books include: Germany and American Neutrality, 1939-1941 (1951) n Butler: The South Called Him Beast (1956) Benjamin Franklin Wade (1964) and The Radical Republicans (1969). He is currently writing a biography of Andrew Johnson.