59 pages 1 hour read

Eric Foner

The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019

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Essay Topics

1.

What distinctions does Foner draw between natural, legal, social, and civil rights? How did views of these rights change during the Reconstruction era?

2.

Evaluate how the historical changes during Reconstruction have impacted the judiciary’s role in protecting civil rights over time. How does Foner illustrate the evolving responsibilities of the judicial system in upholding the principles introduced during Reconstruction?

3.

How did American citizenship transform through the 14th Amendment? Discuss specific legal and societal barriers that the amendment sought to address and analyze whether Foner believes these goals were achieved by the end of Reconstruction.