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Foner, Eric. Forever free; the story of Emancipation & Reconstruction.


FONER, Eric Foner, Eric (1943–  ) historian; born in New York City. Educated at Oxford, England (B.A. 1965) and Columbia University (Ph.D., 1969), he taught at Columbia (1969–73; 1982) and the City College of New York (1973–82). . Forever free; the story of Emancipation & Reconstruction. Random House, Vintage. 268p. illus. bibliog. index. c2005. 0-375-70274-1. $15.00. SA

Probably the longest-running battle over the Civil War is the simple question, what caused it? Mostly, in years past, historians have blamed factors such as economic competition and states' rights states' rights, in U.S. history, doctrine based on the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, which states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. ; slavery, most held, was too simplistic sim·plism  
n.
The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications.



[French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple
 a cause. And yet a volume such as Forever Free forcibly reminds us that if slavery, as such, didn't actually cause the great conflict, the Civil War most certainly was about slavery.

Professor Eric Foner, a distinguished academic historian, has produced a useful and readable one-volume treatment of the experience of African Americans from slavery, through Emancipation in the Civil War, and beyond into the frustrations of Reconstruction. Realizing that this is a lot to ask of a single book, Foner wisely devotes most of his space to the ins and outs ins and outs  
pl.n.
1. The intricate details of a situation, decision, or process.

2. The windings of a road or path.
 of the Reconstruction Era. Most students are aware, for example, that the promise of "40 acres and a mule" tragically was not kept, but the author carefully explains how alternate plans might have worked if implemented fairly. Throughout, numerous carefully selected photographs, engravings, and political cartoons chosen and edited by Joshua Brown, serve to enliven en·liv·en  
tr.v. en·liv·ened, en·liv·en·ing, en·liv·ens
To make lively or spirited; animate.



en·liven·er n.
 the sometimes-pedantic text, and bring a vivid sense of reality to the narrative.

The author is too wise to get bogged down in academic detail, and for the most part his writing style is clear and straightforward. Best of all, he keeps his focus firmly on the African Americans themselves, their hopes and their experiences. Secondary teachers will find many uses for this title. Raymond Puffer puffer, common name for some tropical marine fish of the family Tetraodontidae. The puffers and their allies, the boxfish, the porcupinefish, and the ocean sunfish or headfish, form an odd group (order Tetraodontiformes). , Ph.D., Historian, Edwards AFB AFB
abbr.
acid-fast bacillus


AFB Acid-fast bacillus, also 1. Aflatoxin B 2. Aorto-femoral bypass
, Lancaster, CA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.
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Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Author:Puffer, Raymond
Publication:Kliatt
Date:Jan 1, 2007
Words:318
Previous Article:Farrow, Anne, Lang, Joel, Frank, Jenifer. Complicity; how the North promoted, prolonged, and profited from slavery.
Next Article:Marvel, William. Andersonville; the last depot.



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