Overview

Radical Reform describes a remarkable chapter in the American pro-democracy movement. It portrays the largely unknown leaders of the interracial Republican Party who struggled for political, civil, and labor rights in North Carolina after the Civil War. In so doing, they paved the way for the victorious coalition that briefly toppled the white supremacist Democratic Party regime in the 1890s. Beckel provides a nuanced assessment of the distinctive coalitions built by black and white Republicans, as they sought to outmaneuver the Democratic Party. She demonstrates how the dynamic political conditions in the state from 1850 to 1900 led reformers of both races to force their traditional society toward a more radical agenda. By examining the evolution of anti-elitist politics and organized labor in North Carolina, Beckel brings a new understanding to party factionalism of the 1870s and 1880s. As racial conditions deteriorated across America in the 1890s, North Carolina Republicans forged a fragile coalition with Populists. While this interracial pro-democracy movement proved triumphant by 1894, it carried the seeds of its ultimate destruction.

Full Product Details

9780813930022

Table of Contents

Reviews

Well written and engaging, Radical Reform provides a timely historical prism that we may use to understand better both our past and present, but it is not a popular history text; it is a solid academic monograph most appropriate for college and university libraries. With nearly a quarter of its length devoted to annotated endnotes and bibliography, future researchers will find it to be a fertile guide to their studies.--C. William Gee, East Carolina University North Carolina Library Association

Well written and engaging, Radical Reform provides a timely historical prism that we may use to understand better both our past and present, but it is not a popular history text; it is a solid academic monograph most appropriate for college and university libraries. With nearly a quarter of its length devoted to annotated endnotes and bibliography, future researchers will find it to be a fertile guide to their studies.--C. William Gee, East Carolina University North Carolina Library Association The case of North Carolina, where the Republican Party survived as an important agency of African American political power after the Civil War, has often confounded social and political historians. In this elegant and thoughtful study, Deborah Beckel traces the often contradictory position of blacks from Reconstruction to Fusion. Her study of race and politics in North Carolina after the Civil War brings together new research, a fresh perspective, and steady and judicious interpretation. The result is the best book that we have on the impact of Emancipation on the political order in post-Civil War North Carolina.--William A. Link, University of Florida, author of The Paradox of Southern Progressivism, 1880-1930 This fine study of North Carolina's unique and misunderstood history of interracial politics is rich in lessons about race and reform. Beckel's insights are fresh, her research is first rate, and her prose is sure-footed. Radical Reform is a significant accomplishment.--Charles Postel, San Francisco State University, author of The Populist Vision Well written and engaging, Radical Reform provides a timely historical prism that we may use to understand better both our past and present, but it is not a popular history text; it is a solid academic monograph most appropriate for college and university libraries. With nearly a quarter of its length devoted to annotated endnotes and bibliography, future researchers will find it to be a fertile guide to their studies.--C. William Gee, East Carolina University North Carolina Library Association The case of North Carolina, where the Republican Party survived as an important agency of African American political power after the Civil War, has often confounded social and political historians. In this elegant and thoughtful study, Deborah Beckel traces the often contradictory position of blacks from Reconstruction to Fusion. Her study of race and politics in North Carolina after the Civil War brings together new research, a fresh perspective, and steady and judicious interpretation. The result is the best book that we have on the impact of Emancipation on the political order in post-Civil War North Carolina.--William A. Link, University of Florida, author of The Paradox of Southern Progressivism, 1880-1930 This fine study of North Carolina's unique and misunderstood history of interracial politics is rich in lessons about race and reform. Beckel's insights are fresh, her research is first rate, and her prose is sure-footed. Radical Reform is a significant accomplishment.--Charles Postel, San Francisco State University, author of The Populist Vision Well written and engaging, RadicalReform provides a timely historical prism that we may use tounderstand better both our past and present, but it is not a popular history text;it is a solid academic monograph most appropriate for college and universitylibraries. With nearly a quarter of its length devoted to annotated endnotes andbibliography, future researchers will find it to be a fertile guide to theirstudies.--C. William Gee, East Carolina University North Carolina Library Association

<p>This fine study of North Carolina's unique and misunderstoodhistory of interracial politics is rich in lessons about race and reform. Beckel'sinsights are fresh, her research is first rate, and her prose is sure-footed.Radical Reform is a significant accomplishment.--Charles Postel, San Francisco State University, author of ThePopulist Vision

Well written and engaging, <i>Radical Reform</i> provides a timely historical prism that we may use to understand better both our past and present, but it is not a popular history text; it is a solid academic monograph most appropriate for college and university libraries. With nearly a quarter of its length devoted to annotated endnotes and bibliography, future researchers will find it to be a fertile guide to their studies.</p>--C. William Gee, East Carolina University North Carolina Library Association

Author Information

Deborah Beckel is descended from the Curlee, Faulkner, Griffin, and Stegall families of Anson and Union Counties in North Carolina.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available