IndexIntroductionFoner's Analysis of ReconstructionEconomic and Slavery Considerations During ReconstructionThe Complexity of the Post-Civil War EraConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionI found that this shortened version of "Reconstruction Foner's "America's Unfinished Revolution" is an incredibly well-written and critically analyzed account of the factors that led to the end of Reconstruction, shedding light on the question of "who killed Reconstruction." Foner's expertise as a historian is evident in his thorough documentation of social, economic, and political trends during this fascinating period in American history. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Foner's Reconstruction Analysis Foner's clear analysis seeks to make us empathize with President Andrew Johnson during the Presidential Reconstruction period and also empathize with the radical Republicans who took their turn with Radical Reconstruction. Both phases of Reconstruction faced a similar situation, that the infrastructure and social network of the postwar Southern states still retained Confederates of considerable education and influence, and that Southern Unionists or Republicans were simply not strong enough or supported enough to regroup. the South after the war. The southern states were devastated. There was considerable hunger and homelessness. The banking and commodity infrastructure was demolished, and Confederate bond holders were now bankrupt. There were Unionists and Southern Republicans who risked their lives to stay in the Southern states during the war, but by the end of the war the task of rebuilding the Southern states was beyond the abilities or resources of these Unionists and the old structure of power came forward and they held public offices and positions of influence. This trend was very evident during Andrew Johnson's Presidential Reconstruction period, but was also present in the Radical or Congressional Reconstruction period. Economic and Slavery Considerations During Reconstruction Foner makes it very clear that the fate of the freed slaves was a major social upheaval and consideration during this period. The complexity of the situation was astonishing because a million people were now free, without work, land, opportunity, education or power. Foner's analysis is primarily an economic analysis of the struggle between capital and labor and the fact that when slaves were freed, capital found it in its interest to return these freed slaves to quasi-slave economic conditions as tenant farmers without the right to negotiate conditions. of their location. The presidency and impeachment of President Andrew Johnson are well presented and reveal that Johnson was simply unable to enforce Reconstruction and so the power structure of the planters of the old South returned to power during the last two years of his presidency . However, once responsibility for Reconstruction passed from the President to Congress, some progress was made, but old relationships emerged in the South that went beyond the intervention of a distant Republican Congress in Washington. The Complexity of the Post-Civil War Era Foner avoids major summary statements that summarize everything for the reader. This is not popular literature, it is serious historical analysis, and it is through careful presentation of the facts that complexity emerges. I found that I would read pages of Foner's story before I could step back and summarize these huge ones for myself, 2014.