Eric Foner

Eric Foner, Historian and Author of "The Second Founding"

Eric Foner

Historian Eric Foner characterizes the Reconstruction era as a "second founding" where the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments fundamentally transformed the Constitution by establishing birthright citizenship, national equality, and federal protection of individual rights. Although modern scholarship rejects the early 20th-century "Dunning School" view that framed this period as a failed experiment, Foner argues that contemporary interpretations of these amendments continue to reflect evolving societal values regarding voting and civil rights. While the Supreme Court eventually eviscerated these protections to legitimize segregation, historical records from the era show that Black leaders and politicians consistently advocated for a robust federal role in safeguarding the new democratic framework.