Reconstruction and the Constitution, 1866-1876

"Reconstruction and the Constitution, 1866-1876" by John William Burgess is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book examines the complexities and implications of the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, focusing particularly on the constitutional aspects of reintegrating the Southern states into the Union. It aims to critique and analyze the various plans and policies that emerged during this transformative period in American history. The opening of the book sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the theory of Reconstruction, emphasizing the distinction between the concept of a "state" within a federal system and the nature of local governance. Burgess argues that a proper understanding of what constitutes a "state" is critical for addressing the challenges of Reconstruction, particularly the erroneous means employed in the process. He asserts that both the North and the South must acknowledge their roles in the failures of Reconstruction, and lays out the foundation for the discussions that will follow. This introduction highlights the idea that restoring civil governance requires not only legal frameworks but also a sincere recognition of past errors by both factions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John William Burgess was an American political scientist. He spent most of his career at Columbia University where he in 1880 created the first graduate school in Political Science. He has been described as "the most influential political scientist of the period" and "the father of American political science."