Subject
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) -- Georgia Books
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Edwin C. (Edwin Campbell) Woolley
The Reconstruction of Georgia Studies in History, Economics and Public Law, Vol. 13, No. 3, 1901
"The Reconstruction of Georgia" by Edwin C. Woolley is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This work focuses on the political and social changes during the Reconstruction era in Georgia, detailing the processes and challenges as the state transitioned back into the Union after the Civil War. Woolley examines key events, the involvement of notable figures, and the complexity of race relations during this critical period, highlighting the struggle between various factions—including former Confederates, Republican politicians, and newly freed individuals. The opening of the book introduces the context of Presidential Reconstruction following the Civil War, specifically under President Lincoln and later President Johnson. Woolley describes the initial approaches toward reinstating Georgia's government, including efforts by Governor Joseph E. Brown and other Confederate supporters to reclaim authority. However, federal resistance led to military control and the establishment of a provisional government, with significant implications for both white Georgians and the newly emancipated black population. This groundwork sets the stage for an in-depth analysis of the struggles associated with returning Georgia to a functioning state within the Union and the social transformations that ensued.
Hamilton W. (Hamilton Wilcox) Pierson
A Letter to Hon. Charles Sumner, with 'Statements' of Outrages upon Freedmen in Georgia
"A Letter to Hon. Charles Sumner, with 'Statements' of Outrages upon Freedmen in Georgia" by Rev. H. W. Pierson, D.D. is a historical account written in the post-Civil War era, specifically around the late 1860s to early 1870s. This work focuses on the horrifying realities faced by freed African Americans in Georgia, detailing their struggles with violence and injustice in the aftermath of emancipation. It serves both as a personal testimony by the author and as a broader commentary on the social and political climate affecting freedmen in the Reconstruction South. The book comprises a poignant letter to Senator Charles Sumner, underscoring the severe and brutal treatment inflicted upon the freedmen by former slaveholders and groups like the Ku-Klux Klan. Through firsthand "statements" gathered from various individuals such as Cane Cook and Floyd Snelson, Pierson exposes the physical and psychological torment experienced by these individuals, including violence, intimidation, and economic exploitation. The author himself recounts his experiences as a pastor in Andersonville, where he witnessed and documented these outrages, ultimately advocating for the protection and redress of grievances for the oppressed freedmen against the backdrop of a government failing to prevent such injustices.
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