Historian A: Eric Foner – Social Perspective

"Eric Foner emphasizes the importance of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments in transforming Southern society. He argues that these amendments aimed to establish civil rights and political equality for African Americans, although their implementation faced strong resistance. Foner highlights the progress made during Reconstruction, such as Black political participation and legal advancements, but also acknowledges the setbacks due to Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws. Overall, he views Reconstruction as a crucial, though incomplete, effort to guarantee civil rights and reshape American society."

Historian B: C. Vann Woodward – Economic Perspective

"C. Vann Woodward takes an economic view, suggesting that the Amendments were primarily driven by economic interests of Northern industrialists and politicians. He argues that Reconstruction policies aimed to secure cheap labor and access to Southern resources, often at the expense of genuine racial equality. Woodward emphasizes the economic motivations behind the laws, viewing them as tools for economic control rather than true social justice. He contends that the political gains for African Americans were limited and that economic interests ultimately undermined the ideals of Reconstruction."