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Henry Wilson and the Era of Reconstruction
Author(s): John L. Myers (Author)
- Publisher: University Press of America
- Publication Date: 29 July 2009
- Language: English
- Print length: 316 pages
- ISBN-10: 0761847421
- ISBN-13: 9780761847427
Book Description
During the Era of Reconstruction, Wilson fought to protect the rights of the newly-freed slaves, but he was opposed to the severe punishment of Confederate leaders and initially tried to be conciliatory toward President Johnson’s lenient policies. Soon Wilson joined others in promoting Congress’s own Reconstruction program, including the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Military Reconstruction Acts, and the impeachment of the President. He became the Republican Party’s most frequently-used campaign speaker. Long recognized as a spokesman for labor, he was also the foremost national politician promoting the cause of prohibition. He wrote the most authoritative three-volume work on the causes of the Civil War from the northern viewpoint. He was also a frequent contributor to the era’s most influential religious periodical. In 1872, Wilson was rewarded for his political activities when he was nominated and elected as the country’s vice-president.
Editorial Reviews
Review
This book constitutes the third volume of Myers”s study of Henry Wilson. The previous two covered his career before (Henry Wilson and the Coming of the Civil War, 2005) and during the Civil War (Senator Henry Wilson and the Civil War, 2007). This one continues the story with Wilson”s activities in Congress and in the executive branch during Reconstruction. Myers (emer., SUNY Plattsburgh) focuses on Wilson”s activities during Congress”s struggle with President Andrew Johnson over control of Reconstruction,his leadership in the Senate during President U.S. Grant”s first term, and his service as vice president during Grant”s second term. Myers maintains that even though the upper class of Wilson”s native Northeast never accepted him as an equal, he became apotent political force during the late 1860s and 1870s. Wilson was a mediator who sought to reconcile various Republicans into common purpose, according to Myers”s interpretation. Wilson”s disapproval of Grant”s ill-disguised attempt to captain a third term led to division between the two and to harsh criticism from Grant”s friends before Wilson”s death in November 1873. Myers consulted significant numbers of archive collections, period newspapers and journals, public documents, and secondary sources in — JP Sanson
This book constitutes the third volume of Myers”s study of Henry Wilson. The previous two covered his career before (Henry Wilson and the Coming of the Civil War, 2005) and during the Civil War (Senator Henry Wilson and the Civil War, 2007). This one continues the story with Wilson”s activities in Congress and in the executive branch during Reconstruction. Myers (emer., SUNY Plattsburgh) focuses on Wilson”s activities during Congress”s struggle with President Andrew Johnson over control of Reconstruction, his leadership in the Senate during President U.S. Grant”s first term, and his service as vice president during Grant”s second term. Myers maintains that even though the upper class of Wilson”s native Northeast never accepted him as an equal, he became a potent political force during the late 1860s and 1870s. Wilson was a mediator who sought to reconcile various Republicans into common purpose, according to Myers”s interpretation. Wilson”s disapproval of Grant”s ill-disguised attempt to captain a third term led to division between the two and to harsh criticism from Grant”s friends before Wilson”s death in November 1873. Myers consulted significant numbers of archive collections, period newspapers and journals, public documents, and secondary sources in his research. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. — JP Sanson
