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Dylan Abuel

HST 202
Chapter 1
Historians interpretations of the same events may differ greatly and can alter the way a
historical event may be perceived to the readers of their accounts Since all historians do not
come from the same locations! have different bac"grounds due to their locations! have different
political views! live in different times! or simply have a different s"in color! their perceptions of
events can become biased and altered #n the instance of the American $econstruction! many
people tend to analy%e the chronology with their own beliefs in mind! particularly on terms such
as the attitude toward &egroes and the effectiveness of the $econstruction
The most differed interpretation of the $econstruction is the overall treatment of the
&egroes in society! with some glossing over it and others focusing on the atrocities based on the
social bac"ground of the historian Thomas ' 'ilson! the (rinceton historian from )irginia that
followed right after the $econstruction! obviously still notices the &egro inferiority and
pre*udice by referring to the intolerable burden of governments sustained by the votes of
ignorant &egroes +11, He reali%es their misfortune by seeing that their only chances at gaining
property were occasional allotments of a banded or forfeited land +10, This account! written
*ust years after the $econstruction too" place! shares popular views of privileged white men all
over America &ot much sympathy is given to &egroes in this source! seeing a severe divide
between white s"inned people and blac" s"inned people Another interpretation of the
$econstruction! by Carter 'oodson! shows a compassionate approach to the treatment of
&egroes Clearly identifying with the blac" community! 'oodson viewed the white mens
attitude as insensitive seen from their little sympathy for the South +1-, He believed that the
white men downright could not tolerate the blac" citi%ens +1-, and resorted to terrorism with
lawlessness and violence +1-, 'oodson chooses to focus on the pain and suffering brought
among the &egroes and the mercilessness of the .u .lu/ .lan He goes as far as portraying the
white men as uncivili%ed through their actions carried out with disturbing elements of anarchy
+1-,! almost dehumani%ing them by associating them with chaos These two interpretations of the
treatment of &egroes during this period are very different in levels of severity! with 'ilson
evaluating it as merely unfortunate and 'oodson considering it as a relocation of slavery because
of their differing social bac"grounds
The failure of the $econstruction was also seen through different perspectives of
particular aspects of society! such as economic! social! and political Thomas 0ailey believed it
failed for political reasons such as the pathetic and tragic +11, lac" of political "nowledge of
the &egroes 0eing a white male from an earlier and more pre*udice time of 1233! 0ailey
naturally focuses on the illiteracy and incompetency of &egro voters &ow that they have more
political power and hold a strong minority +11, that seems to be a threat to white political
power 4ary 0eth &orton! a woman historian who wrote her interpretation in the more previous
year of 2001! believed that the failure was due to social reasons She may have defended the
&egroes because she lives in a less pre*udice bac"ground or because she belongs to a minority of
women as well and sympathi%es with minorities that dont get much representation or power in
the american white! patriarchal society She believed that the &egroes were put in an unfair
position by white landowners who compromise blac"s political freedom +20, 5reed men did
not have a chance to thrive against their previous masters! being armed only with the ballot
+20,! which was clearly not enough to help them receive *ustice from the discrimination and
violence being handed to them

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