A Just and Lasting Peace

A Documentary History of Reconstruction

This anthology of primary documents traces Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Civil War, chronicling the way Americans—Northern, Southern, black, and white—responded to the changes unleashed by the surrender at Appomattox and the end of slavery.

Showcasing an impressive collection of original documents, including government publications, newspaper articles, speeches, pamphlets, and personal letters, this book captures the voices of a broad range of Americans, including Civil War veterans, former slaveholders, Northerners living in the South, and African-American men and women who lived through one of the most trying, complex, and misunderstood periods of American history.

John David Smith is the Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He has been a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies and received the Myers Center Award for the Study of Human Rights in North America. He currently serves as contributing editor for the Journal of American History and on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals. Among the books he has authored or edited are Black Voices from Reconstruction; Slavery, Race and American History; and Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and “The American Negro, which won The Mayflower Society Award for Nonfiction. He has appeared on The History Channel, as an authority on the U.S. Colored Troops, and on Voice of America, as an authority on conservative racial thought during the Age of Jim Crow. View titles by John David Smith

About

This anthology of primary documents traces Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Civil War, chronicling the way Americans—Northern, Southern, black, and white—responded to the changes unleashed by the surrender at Appomattox and the end of slavery.

Showcasing an impressive collection of original documents, including government publications, newspaper articles, speeches, pamphlets, and personal letters, this book captures the voices of a broad range of Americans, including Civil War veterans, former slaveholders, Northerners living in the South, and African-American men and women who lived through one of the most trying, complex, and misunderstood periods of American history.

Author

John David Smith is the Charles H. Stone Distinguished Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He has been a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies and received the Myers Center Award for the Study of Human Rights in North America. He currently serves as contributing editor for the Journal of American History and on the editorial boards of several scholarly journals. Among the books he has authored or edited are Black Voices from Reconstruction; Slavery, Race and American History; and Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and “The American Negro, which won The Mayflower Society Award for Nonfiction. He has appeared on The History Channel, as an authority on the U.S. Colored Troops, and on Voice of America, as an authority on conservative racial thought during the Age of Jim Crow. View titles by John David Smith

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more