Changes

In the 1870s one by one, white congressional abolitionists abandoned the cause, typified by [[Charles Sumner]] who switched to the Liberal Republicans in 1872. In the mid-1870s the [[Redeemers]] (the Southern wing of the [[Bourbon Democrats]] in the [[Democratic Party]]) overthrew the Republican coalition that had controlled the southern states during "Black Reconstruction" after 1867. The Redeemers replaced the [[civil rights]] reforms of [[Reconstruction]] with Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregation in public places. The Redeemers eliminated or curtailed African-American voting rights. In effect they replaced the short period after slavery when African Americans enjoyed some legal rights with segregation laws that impacted African-Americans socially, politically, and economically for the next 80 years.  

In the 1870s one by one, white congressional abolitionists abandoned the cause, typified by [[Charles Sumner]] who switched to the Liberal Republicans in 1872. In the mid-1870s the [[Redeemers]] (the Southern wing of the [[Bourbon Democrats]] in the [[Democratic Party]]) overthrew the Republican coalition that had controlled the southern states during "Black Reconstruction" after 1867. The Redeemers replaced the [[civil rights]] reforms of [[Reconstruction]] with Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregation in public places. The Redeemers eliminated or curtailed African-American voting rights. In effect they replaced the short period after slavery when African Americans enjoyed some legal rights with segregation laws that impacted African-Americans socially, politically, and economically for the next 80 years.  

Public opinion, among northern whites, and most opinion by white scholars, accepted or applauded the Redeemers, but some clung to the abolitionist viewpoint. McPherson <ref>McPherson, ''Abolitionist Legacy'' page 5, 114, 317&ndash;385, 390</ref> reports that 15 of 24 ex-abolitionists who wrote about Reconstruction called it a "qualified success." However others, including [[Frederick Douglass]], said Reconstruction had, "carried the colored voter to an altitude unsuited to his attainments."<ref>McPherson 1975</ref>

Public opinion, among northern whites, and most opinion by white scholars, accepted or applauded the Redeemers, but some clung to the abolitionist viewpoint. McPherson<ref>McPherson, ''Abolitionist Legacy'' page 5, 114, 317&ndash;385, 390</ref> reports that 15 of 24 ex-abolitionists who wrote about Reconstruction called it a "qualified success." However others, including [[Frederick Douglass]], said Reconstruction had, "carried the colored voter to an altitude unsuited to his attainments."<ref>McPherson 1975</ref>

In the 1880s nationalist historians like [[James Ford Rhodes]] held that secession over the issue of slavery was a primary cause of the Civil War. Neoabolitionists in the 1960s added that nation had a moral debt to abolish the abomination that was slavery, and to guarantee equal rights for Blacks, especially to guarantee voting rights.

In the 1880s nationalist historians like [[James Ford Rhodes]] held that secession over the issue of slavery was a primary cause of the Civil War. Neoabolitionists in the 1960s added that nation had a moral debt to abolish the abomination that was slavery, and to guarantee equal rights for Blacks, especially to guarantee voting rights.

==Early 20th century==

==Early 20th century==

In the 1930s a minority view by [[W.E.B. Du Bois]] presented positive views of the achievements of Reconstruction for its advocacy of civil rights for African Americans, including ensuring, for a brief period, the right to vote.  

In the 1930s a minority view by [[W.E.B. Du Bois]] presented positive views of the achievements of Reconstruction for its advocacy of civil rights for African Americans, including ensuring, for a brief period, the right to vote.  

 

Du Bois, a founder of the [[NAACP]], argued from a Marxist perspective that economic equality among black and white people would lead to equality for all.

Du Bois, a founder of the [[NAACP]], argued from a Marxist perspective that economic equality among black and white people would lead to equality for all.  

==Civil Rights Movement as "new abolitionists"==

==Civil Rights Movement as "new abolitionists"==

Beginning in the 1960s, the generation of historians, strongly influenced by the Civil Rights movement, portrayed slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction in terms of the advancement achieved by the abolition of slavery and the coming of emancipation to those who had been enslaved for centuries.  

Beginning in the 1960s, the generation of historians, strongly influenced by the Civil Rights movement, portrayed slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction in terms of the advancement achieved by the abolition of slavery and the coming of emancipation to those who had been enslaved for centuries.  

[[Eric Foner]] dated his major survey of Reconstruction from 1863 to emphasize the success of abolition (via the Emancipation Proclamation). Foner's ''Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877'' (1988) explicitly put the "unfinished" theme in its subtitle, explicitly connecting the 1860s to the second half of the 20th century when the issues of civil rights were taken up anew.  Neoabolitionists reappraised the original abolitionists as heroes, even [[John Brown]].<ref>Martin Duberman, ed. ''The Antislavery Vanguard: New Essays on the Abolitionists'' 1966</ref>) and echoed their moral values.  Contemporary historians, including David W. Blight, Eric Foner, Michael Les Benedict reject the Dunning School notion that Reconstruction was inherently corrupt because it gave the vote to illiterate blacks who lacked a political education. They argue that Reconstruction had many positive elements, beginning with the enfranchisement of African-Americans, and the introduction of public schools in the South where they had not previously existed.  They emphasize that racism itself is the worst form of corruption and violation of republicanism.

[[Eric Foner]] dated his major survey of Reconstruction from 1863 to emphasize the success of abolition (via the Emancipation Proclamation). Foner's ''Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877'' (1988) explicitly put the "unfinished" theme in its subtitle, explicitly connecting the 1860s to the second half of the 20th century when the issues of civil rights were taken up anew.  Neoabolitionists reappraised the original abolitionists as heroes, even [[John Brown]],<ref>Martin Duberman, ed. ''The Antislavery Vanguard: New Essays on the Abolitionists'' 1966</ref> and echoed their moral values.  Contemporary historians, including David W. Blight, Eric Foner, Michael Les Benedict reject the Dunning School notion that Reconstruction was inherently corrupt because it gave the vote to illiterate blacks who lacked a political education. They argue that Reconstruction had many positive elements, beginning with the enfranchisement of African-Americans, and the introduction of public schools in the South where they had not previously existed.  They emphasize that racism itself is the worst form of corruption and violation of republicanism.

==Usage history==

==Usage history==

* In 1964, historian George B. Tindall said that in the 1920s [[H. L. Mencken]] was the "guiding genius" behind "the neoabolitionist myth of the Savage South". That is, Mencken was breaking with the "lost cause" heroic image of the South and sharply criticizing it, as did the abolitionists.<ref>Tindall, "Mythology: A New Frontier in Southern History," in Frank E. Vandiver, ed., ''The Idea of the South: Pursuit of a Central Theme'' 1964 pp 5&ndash;6</ref>

* In 1964, historian George B. Tindall said that in the 1920s [[H. L. Mencken]] was the "guiding genius" behind "the neoabolitionist myth of the Savage South". That is, Mencken was breaking with the "lost cause" heroic image of the South and sharply criticizing it, as did the abolitionists.<ref>Tindall, "Mythology: A New Frontier in Southern History," in Frank E. Vandiver, ed., ''The Idea of the South: Pursuit of a Central Theme'' 1964 pp 5&ndash;6</ref>

* In the 1960s the term was popularized by the young radical historian [[Howard Zinn]], who in 1964 called the activists in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] who fought to overturn [[Jim Crow]] segregation the "new abolitionists." Zinn, however, did not use the term neoabolitionist and he did not apply the term to contemporary historians.  

* In the 1960s the term was popularized by the young radical historian [[Howard Zinn]], who in 1964 called the activists in the [[Civil Rights Movement]] who fought to overturn [[Jim Crow]] segregation the "new abolitionists." Zinn, however, did not use the term neoabolitionist and he did not apply the term to contemporary historians.  

* In the mid-1960s The term appeared in several articles in scholarly journals including ''Journal  of Southern History''  Vol. 31, No. 4 (Nov., 1965), p.&nbsp;461; also ''ibid.'' Vol. 32 (Feb., 1966), p 67) although it is not clear that those references referred to historians themselves or to the activists in the civil rights movement.  

* In the mid-1960s The term appeared in several articles in scholarly journals including ''Journal  of Southern History''  Vol. 31, No. 4 (Nov., 1965), p.&nbsp;461; also ''ibid.'' Vol. 32 (Feb., 1966), (p 67) although it is not clear that those references referred to historians themselves or to the activists in the civil rights movement.  

* In 1969, Stanford historian Don Fehrenbacher in the ''American Historical Review'' wrote about, "today's neoabolitionist historians, whose own social roles often intensify their sense of identity with the antislavery radicals."  

* In 1969, Stanford historian Don Fehrenbacher in the ''American Historical Review'' wrote about, "today's neoabolitionist historians, whose own social roles often intensify their sense of identity with the antislavery radicals."  

* In 1974 [[C. Vann Woodward]] noted that, "by the 1950s a neoabolitionist mood prevailed among historians of slavery.<ref>''American Historical review'' (April 1974) p. 471</ref>

* In 1974 [[C. Vann Woodward]] noted that, "by the 1950s a neoabolitionist mood prevailed among historians of slavery.<ref>''American Historical review'' (April 1974) p. 471</ref>

== Bibliography==

== Bibliography==

* [[W.E.B. Du Bois]], ''Black Reconstruction in America'' (1935) (1998). DuBois was the leading Marxist historian in the U.S. and a very prominent black intellectual

* [[W.E.B. Du Bois]], ''Black Reconstruction in America'' (1935) (1998). DuBois was the leading Marxist historian in the U.S. and a very prominent black intellectual

* Blight, David W. ''Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory'' (2001), esp. p. 2; [http://www.amazon.com/Race-Reunion-Civil-American-Memory/dp/0674008197/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195734635&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Blight, David W. ''Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory'' (2001), esp. p. 2; [https://www.amazon.com/Race-Reunion-Civil-American-Memory/dp/0674008197/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195734635&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Fellman, Michael, and Lewis Perry, eds., ''Antislavery Reconsidered,'' (1981).  

* Fellman, Michael, and Lewis Perry, eds., ''Antislavery Reconsidered,'' (1981).  

* Fellman, Michael, et al., ''Prophets of Protest: Reconsidering the History of American Abolitionism,''  (2006).  

* Fellman, Michael, et al., ''Prophets of Protest: Reconsidering the History of American Abolitionism,''  (2006).  

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[[Category:History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:Historians]]

[[Category:Historians]]

[[Category:Civil Rights]]

[[Category:Civil Rights]]