2016 Press Releases

National Archives Hosts Program on Resconstruction November 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Press Release · Monday, November 9, 2015

Washington, DC

Historian Eric Foner discusses Reconstruction, voting, and interracial democracy

On Thursday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m., the National Archives presents Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Eric Foner in a program titled “Reconstruction and the Fragility of Democracy.” Reserve a seat online. This program will be streamed live online. Presented in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Conference on DC Historical Studies, with support from the Curt C. and Else Silberman Foundation and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

The program is free and open to the public and will take place in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution at 7th Street NW. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, reservations are recommended. Doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program.

“Reconstruction and the Fragility of Democracy”

Historian Eric Foner, author of Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad, discusses the Reconstruction era (1863–1877) during which large numbers of black men became voters and office-holders. Yet this time also saw a violent counter-revolution that wiped out the possibilities of interracial democracy for more than a half century. Professor Foner discusses the causes of both the expansion of democracy and its overthrow, and what this tells us about the history of democracy in the United States.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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