The Age of Reconstruction

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This sweeping history explores how the Union's victory in the American Civil War inspired democratic reforms, revolutions, and emancipation movements across Europe and the Americas. It examines the international repercussions of Lincoln’s assassination and the subsequent changes that unfolded. Between 1865 and 1870, significant events included France's withdrawal from Mexico, Russia's sale of Alaska to the U.S., and Britain's establishment of Canada. During this period, British workers pushed for greater voting rights, Spain deposed Queen Isabella II and abolished slavery in its Caribbean colonies, and Cubans revolted against Spanish rule. Additionally, France saw the fall of Napoleon III, and the Italian Risorgimento dismantled the Papal States. Some European liberals even envisioned a “United States of Europe.” However, this era of optimism was fleeting. By the 1890s, Reconstruction had unraveled in the U.S. and globally, leading to an exclusionary democracy rooted in white supremacy. As W.E.B. Du Bois noted, America’s Reconstruction was a pivotal step toward global democracy for all races. This history captures a remarkable period when democracy, tested by the Civil War, was on the rise throughout the Atlantic world.