War to the Knife: The Brutal Battle for Post-Civil War America

A War to the Knife: England Vs West Indies in the 1930s

by Terry Spear

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3853 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages
Paperback	:	250 pages
Item Weight	:	13.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.63 x 9 inches

FREE

In the aftermath of the Civil War, America was a nation divided. The Union had been preserved, but the legacy of slavery and the fight for racial justice continued to tear the country apart. In his new book, War to the Knife, historian David W. Blight tells the gripping story of theReconstruction Era, a time of both great promise and great violence.

Blight begins his narrative with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, a tragedy that plunged the nation into mourning. In the wake of Lincoln's death, his successor, Andrew Johnson, attempted to implement a lenient Reconstruction plan that would allow the former Confederate states to quickly rejoin the Union. However, Johnson's plan was met with resistance from Radical Republicans in Congress, who demanded more stringent measures to protect the rights of freed slaves.

The conflict between Johnson and the Radicals led to a bitter struggle for control of Reconstruction. The Radicals eventually prevailed, and they passed a series of laws that granted freed slaves the right to vote, hold office, and serve on juries. These laws were met with fierce resistance from white Southerners, who formed the Ku Klux Klan and other terrorist organizations to intimidate and murder African Americans.

Blight's book provides a detailed account of the violence and bloodshed that characterized the Reconstruction Era. He describes the Klan's reign of terror, as well as the federal government's efforts to suppress it. Blight also examines the role of African Americans in the Reconstruction process, and he shows how they fought for their rights despite the overwhelming odds against them.

War to the Knife is a powerful and moving account of a pivotal period in American history. Blight's writing is clear and engaging, and he brings the Reconstruction Era to life with vivid detail. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex and often tragic history of race in America.

Key Players and Events

• Abraham Lincoln: The assassinated president who began the process of Reconstruction.
• Andrew Johnson: Lincoln's successor who attempted to implement a lenient Reconstruction plan.
• Radical Republicans: The group of Congressmen who demanded more stringent measures to protect the rights of freed slaves.
• Ku Klux Klan: The terrorist organization that intimidated and murdered African Americans during Reconstruction.
• Freedmen's Bureau: The federal agency that provided aid to freed slaves during Reconstruction.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1865: Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
• 1865-1867: Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction plan.
• 1867: Radical Republicans gain control of Congress.
• 1868: Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution grants freed slaves citizenship.
• 1868: Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution grants freed slaves the right to vote.
• 1865-1877: Ku Klux Klan reign of terror.
• 1877: End of Reconstruction.

Legacy of the Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Era was a time of great progress and great violence. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution were all passed during this period, and they guaranteed freed slaves the rights of citizenship, equal protection under the law, and the right to vote. However, the Reconstruction Era was also a time of great violence and bloodshed, as white Southerners resisted the efforts of the federal government to protect the rights of freed slaves.

The legacy of the Reconstruction Era is still debated today. Some historians argue that Reconstruction was a failure, as it did not succeed in fully integrating African Americans into American society. Other historians argue that Reconstruction was a success, as it laid the foundation for the civil rights movement of the 20th century.

Regardless of one's interpretation of the Reconstruction Era, it is clear that this period was a pivotal moment in American history. The events of this period shaped the course of race relations in America, and they continue to resonate today.

Buy War to the Knife

A War to the Knife: England Vs West Indies in the 1930s

by Terry Spear

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3853 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages
Paperback	:	250 pages
Item Weight	:	13.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.63 x 9 inches

FREE