The article a "New View of Reconstruction" by author Eric Foner exams and debunks the traditional bias interoperation of reconstruction prior to 1960's. The author clams in the first few paragraphs that the bias interoperation of reconstruction of Abraham Lincoln having a swift plan to reinstate southern states and Andrew Johnson being painted as a tragic hero, who only motives were to carry out Lincoln's plans of a quick reconstruction, but was foiled by the so called "evil" radical republicans, was the result of southern democrats whom favor ainit-reconstruction. The legitimacy of this version of reconstruction was solidified by scholars like Claude G. Bowers author of "A Tragic Era" whom works referred free African-Americans as "simple minded." This story became synonymous as truth among white communities across the country and staled progress for civil rights for blacks.
One major point the author states is that the previous version of reconstruction failed to acknowledge blacks in the story of reconstruction, mostly undermining their ability to tell the story. For example John Burgess a historian viewed blacks as inferior, a view shared by many during the time. To correct the mistake of the previous version of reconstruction many people from the era black and white wrote their own experience of reconstruction. W.E.B Du Bios was one these people who wrote about reconstruction in a new light and emphasis how many of the writing about the subject refuses to see blacks as human-beings. According to the author it wasn't till the early 60's when true revisionist broke through, resulting the original beliefs about reconstruction to fall apart. The author states that Lincoln infect did not have a full plan on reconstruction and that Johnson was a racist politician who had his own plans on the mater. Also the new revision painted the legacy of the radical republicans in positive light and, even arguing that they had broad support for civil right acts of 1866.
