W. E. B. Dunning School Analysis

As the United States entered the 20th century, new historical works began to surface over the complex period known as the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War. The period which has been subject of such varied and conflicting interpretations was headed by the works of William Dunning. The Dunning School, while certainly influenced by the racism of its day, believed Reconstruction failed due to the black community being unprepared and unfit to properly express the political rights that were thrown upon them by Northern politicians. These works were followed up by the Progressives, namely, W.E.B. Du Bois, who published Black Reconstruction in America. Du Bois’ monumental study portrayed Reconstruction as an idealistic effort to construct a democratic, interracial political order from the ashes of slavery that viewed the freedman as the central figures of Reconstruction.
Revisionist history of the 1960’s refocused the debate concerning Reconstruction to include the freedmen as the central figures and looked to throw out the traditional view of Reconstruction. On the heels of the Revisionists School were the Post-Revisionist who argued how essentially non-revolutionary Reconstruction was due to the conservatism of policymakers. The failed attempts to give unity and coherence to the era left a major void in the most controversial chapter in our history. This paper will look at the published work of Eric Foner’s Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution. Moreover, the purpose is to reflect on his splendid work to show how he redrew the boundaries of the period to give a coherent and comprehensive modern account to Reconstruction that would prove to be tremendously influential in the way we view the