Black Reconstruction in America facts for kids
Black Reconstruction in America is a famous history book written by W. E. B. Du Bois. It was first published in 1935. The book tells the story of the Reconstruction era (1860–1880). This was the time right after the Civil War. Du Bois wrote this book to challenge common ideas about Reconstruction back then. Many historians at the time, known as the Dunning School, thought Reconstruction was a failure. They also didn't give much credit to African Americans. Du Bois, however, showed how Black people and freed slaves played a huge role. He argued that this period had great potential. It could have led to a democracy where workers had power, replacing the old system based on slavery.
Contents
Why the Book Was Written
Du Bois had written about Reconstruction before. His first essay on the topic was in 1901. It was called "The Freedmen's Bureau". This essay later appeared in his well-known 1903 book, The Souls of Black Folk. He also wrote about it in his 1924 book, The Gift of Black Folk.
In 1909, Du Bois gave a longer talk about Reconstruction. It was called "Reconstruction and Its Benefits." He presented it to the American Historical Association. Even William Archibald Dunning, a leading historian of the Dunning School, praised Du Bois's paper. The essay was published in 1910. But it didn't change many minds at the time.
Most historians then believed that Black people getting the right to vote was a mistake. They thought the Reconstruction governments in the South failed. Books like The Prostrate State (1878) by James Shepherd Pike supported this view. Other historians like Woodrow Wilson and James Ford Rhodes also wrote about this period. Their books often ignored or spoke badly of African American contributions. This reflected the ideas of white supremacy common at the time. Many Black people and poor white people in the South had lost their right to vote.
After a book called The Tragic Era came out in 1929, Anna J. Cooper asked Du Bois to write a response. This book promoted the Dunning School's ideas. So, in the early 1930s, Du Bois began to plan his major work. He wanted to write a book that would correct the historical record. He outlined his main ideas to his publisher. This led to Black Reconstruction in America.
What the Book Is About
Du Bois's book starts by looking at three groups of people. These are Black workers, white workers, and plantation owners. In his fourth chapter, Du Bois makes a key argument. He says that during the Civil War, enslaved people slowly decided to stop working. They tried to escape to the Union side. Du Bois called this a "general strike." He believed this was a powerful action by four million enslaved people. It was something the Southern leaders had not expected.
Du Bois showed that slavery was already weakening. "Everyone knew that slavery was done with," he wrote. "No matter who won, the condition of the slave could never be the same."
His research also showed that the South did not fall into chaos after slavery ended. Instead, he looked at each state. He noted how the rich plantation owners tried to get back their control. They wanted to regain their land and power. This happened while violent groups, often poor white former overseers, used terror. They tried to stop Black people from organizing and voting. These groups feared the power that four million new voters would have.
Du Bois also pointed out many good things that happened during Reconstruction. Public health departments were created. They worked to improve sanitation and fight diseases. He also showed that the new state constitutions were well-made. Even after Democrats regained power in 1876, they kept these constitutions for almost 25 years. When they later passed segregation and Jim Crow laws, they still kept some public services. These included public education and health laws.
A sad part of Du Bois's findings was about the working class in the South. Black freedmen and poor white people were divided by race. They did not unite against the rich white landowners. Du Bois believed this division allowed white Democrats to regain power. They then passed Jim Crow laws. These laws took away the right to vote from most Black people. They also took it from many poor white people in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Du Bois used a lot of facts and original documents in his book. He showed major achievements of Reconstruction. These included starting public education in the South for the first time. Charitable groups were also founded to help all citizens. The right to vote was given to white people who didn't own land. There was also investment in public buildings and roads.
Main Ideas and Arguments
The General Strike of Slaves
In the chapter called "The General Strike," Du Bois explains his idea. He argues that as the Civil War grew, enslaved people in the South began to resist. They stopped working and tried to escape to the Union army. Du Bois saw this as a turning point in the war. It caused economic problems for the South. It also gave the Union Army more workers and soldiers. And it showed that enslaved people were not happy with their lives. This idea was a key part of Du Bois's argument. It showed that African Americans actively shaped the Civil War's outcome. Many modern historians still agree with this important idea.
The Public and Psychological Wage of Whiteness
Du Bois also wrote about why white and Black workers didn't unite. He said that white workers gained a "public and psychological wage" from racism. This was not money. Instead, it was a feeling of being better than Black people. He explained it like this:
"White workers, even with low pay, got a kind of public and psychological reward. They were treated with respect because they were white. They could go to public events, parks, and the best schools with all white people. Police were chosen from their group. Courts were easy on them, which sometimes led to lawlessness. Their votes chose public officials. This didn't help their money much. But it greatly affected how they were treated. White schools were the best. They cost much more per student than Black schools. Newspapers wrote news that praised poor whites. They almost ignored Black people, except for crime or jokes."
Du Bois's idea that being white gave people special benefits was very important. It influenced a field of study called "whiteness studies." A famous book in this field, The Wages of Whiteness, even got its title from Du Bois's idea.
See also
In Spanish: Black Reconstruction para niños
