The Second Founding.. We speak with Author, Historian Eric Foner

In an enlightening session on Hard Knock Radio, host Davey D, engaged with the renowned author and historian Eric Foner to delve into his latest scholarly work, “The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution.” This pivotal book explores the transformative period of Reconstruction, a time when the United States underwent profound changes to embody the ideals of equality and liberty enshrined in the Declaration of Independence through the enactment of three constitutional amendments.

Foner’s book meticulously outlines how these amendments not only abolished slavery but also laid down the foundations for due process, equal protection under the law, and the right to vote for black men. They signified a monumental shift by establishing birthright citizenship and ensuring that the privileges and immunities of citizenship were guaranteed to all. Crucially, these amendments shifted the responsibility for enforcing these rights from the states to the federal government, marking a significant departure from the original Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Through “The Second Founding,” Eric Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University, traces the journey of these amendments from their origins in the pre-Civil War era to their eventual undermining in the late nineteenth century. The narrative brings to light how Supreme Court decisions and state actions gradually eroded these rights, paving the way for the Jim Crow era.

As Foner underscores, the relevance of these amendments extends beyond their historical context to the current day, where challenges to birthright citizenship, voting rights, and equal protection under the law persist. His book serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggle to secure and maintain basic rights in America. Through his discussion with Davey D, Foner not only offers a deep dive into a critical period of American history but also emphasizes the importance of vigilance and knowledge in safeguarding the rights and liberties that define the nation.