With Freedom's Lawmakers, Eric Foner has assembled the first comprehensive directory of the over 1,500 African Americans who held political office in the South during the Reconstruction era. He has compiled an impressive amount of information about the antebellum status, occupations, property ownership, and military service of these officials -- who range from U.S. congressmen to local justices of the peace and constables. This revised paperback edition also contains new material on forty-five officials who were not included in the first edition.In his Introduction, Foner ably analyzes and interprets the roles of the black American officeholders. Concise biographies, in alphabetical order, trace the life histories of individuals -- many previously unknown -- who played important parts in the politics of the period. This useful and informative volume also includes an index by state, by occupation, by office during Reconstruction, by birth status, and by topic.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: LSU Press
Published: 08/01/1996
ISBN: 9780807120828
Pages: 346
Weight: 1.39lbs
Size: 9.87h x 7.49w x 0.69d

Review Citations: Booklist 02/15/1997 pg. 1041
Rec Ref Bks in Paperback 01/01/2000 pg. 97