The Tragic Era: The Revolution After Lincoln

What it is

This 1929 book by historian Claude G. Bowers tells the story of the years following Abraham Lincoln's death, focusing heavily on Andrew Johnson's presidency and his struggle with Congress over Reconstruction. It was published decades after the events it describes.

Why it matters

Bowers presents Reconstruction as a dramatic, almost melodramatic period of American history, with Johnson as a central figure in its conflicts. As a later, interpretive history rather than a firsthand account, it shows how historians of the early twentieth century told the story of Johnson and Reconstruction, often shaping public memory for generations.

Look closer

• Why does the author compare history to 'melodrama' in the preface?
• How might writing more than sixty years after the events affect what the author chooses to include?
• What assumptions about Johnson and Reconstruction might this book's author have carried into his writing?