Cause: Reconstruction America, 1863-1877

In a bold, storytelling style, Tonya Bolden addresses the Reconstruction era of post-Civil War America. This volume is well-researched and illustrated with many photos, graphics and numerous, sometimes lengthy, sidebars. Bolden not only discusses the situation of the former Confederate states, but also includes Native American and women's perspectives from the time. A drawback is the awkward wording of some sentences. The Notes Section is a rich resource for further research.

The post-Civil War era in the U.S. was a time of many changes when slavery ended and borders began rapidly expanding. Cause: Reconstruction America 1863-1877 surveys the political and social climate which fueled and fostered these changes, considering the major influences and social issues of the times, and providing a liberal amount of vintage black and white photos to spice the presentation. A recommended, narrowed view of post-war changes, Cause will fit in well with any middle school Civil War history curriculum.