Yesterday in class we read a packet about the views of William Archibald Dunning and John hope Franklin. They had two totally different views about the reconstruction period post civil war. At first I thought what does this have to do with me.I have my own opinion. But as I read I soon realized that it have to do with me.
William Archibald Dunning was an American historian who founded the Dunning School of Reconstruction historiography at Columbia University, where he had graduated in 1881. Between 1886 and 1903 he taught history at Columbia, and was named a professor in 1904. Dunning and his followers condemned white Southerners who did not stand with the Confederacy during the Civil War and who joined the Republican Party after the war. White Southern Republicans who did not identify with the goals of former plantation owners as Scalawags. They also referred to Northern whites who moved to the south after the war as Carpetbaggers. Both were derisive terms that Dunning and his followers popularized. Dunning believed that the reconstruction process was not successful because of the corruption there was through out the political parties.
John Hope Franklin is the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History. Professor Franklin's numerous publications include The Emancipation Proclamation, The Militant South, The Free Negro in North Carolina, Reconstruction After the Civil War, and A Southern Odyssey: Travelers in the Antebellum North. In contrast to Dunnings belief, Franklin believes that reconstruction was a success. He thinks that it set the stepping stone for the civil rights movement.
I agree with both of them. Dunning's belief in a way true. The more rights blacks got the more the state government tried to limit those rights. That wasn't the plan. However with blacks rights getting limited that helped those in the civil rights movement. Although blacks could and things they couldn't eat in restaurants and couldn't go to school with whites. So both arguments, in my opinion, are true. Also their different opinions stem from their different eras. Dunning was there( not physically] and Franklin was in the 50's&&60's.
By the end of the class i was quite interested. I wonder what the class thinks. Hopefully we discuss in class tomorrow.!
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7 comments:
Morgan,
I thought the same thing about Dunning, "who is he to me"? But I realized the same thing you did. Both persons view on the civil rights movement made since to me in different ways. Dunning thought it was successful and Franklin did not, which was completely understandable. Overall, good job on your blog.
Good job comparing the two’s opinions of Reconstruction. I can also agree to both of their opinions simply because Dunning knew that the government was limiting his and other’s rights to help blacks live the best lives. Franklin appreciated the fact that the government cared for the freed blacks and helped them from being in extreme poverty. This also gives Reconstruction as somewhat of a good guy-bad guy theme, as no one was really happy about it, but still needed it.
wow i read the same packet too. you did a good job remembering all those things. that was a long packet andi think it was pushinment she just had to relate to the subject.
This was a interesting blog. Just from the title, you had me wondering what the blog was going to be about. Your blog was filled with facts, that taught me a lot. I liked how you explain both peoples sides and told how you agreed with both. I also would agree with you that both Dunning and Franklin had good arguements that they both was right about. Great Blog!!
Good blog. When we got the packet in class i had no idea who William Archibald Dunning was. His opinions held a great role in the reconstruction of the confederate states in the south. I like that you compared his ideas with that of John Hope Franklin, you did a good job of keep your comparing and contrasting organized too.
morg! i love how you admmitted that at first you thought that the packet was about you. but you then realized that it wasn't. I also agree with him. The more that blacks got, the more the goverment tryed to limit. JERKS!!!
I agree with Dunning because there was alot of corruption going through the government. I also agree with Franklin because i think the reconstrution was a stepping stone for the Civil Rights movement. Also really great blog talking about something different then the Civil War.
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