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One of the greatest mistakes America ever made was failing to utterly crush the South after the Civil War -- dismantle its power structures, imprison its leaders, expressly disavow its values & traditions, & put it under the equivalent of receivership for several decades.
"Looking forward not backward" after white reactionaries fuck everything up has been a pattern from the beginning, going right up to [checks watch] now. I'd really like to break that habit.
By the way, if you'd like to learn more about a pivotal episode in America's failure on Reconstruction, check out this thread from @chrislhayes and the book linked at the end. https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1130946419257421830
He also interviewed the book's author, historian Brenda Wineapple, on his podcast -- one of the most fascinating & eye-opening hours you will ever spend. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/msnbc/why-is-this-happening/e/61984376
Whole lotta people in this thread vigorously refuting things that no one said. Even more than usual, I mean. Here's something smarter to read on the subject, from @adamgopnik: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/how-the-south-won-the-civil-war
For the longer version, check out this excellent book by @HC_Richardson: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084T78RLD/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
We were discussing Reconstruction on this feed a few days ago. Here's a good, short primer, from @DrTMP. (It amazes me to this day how little I learned about Reconstruction in TN public schools.) https://theconversation.com/what-everyone-should-know-about-reconstruction-150-years-after-the-15th-amendments-ratification-122117
As long as I'm sharing reading recommendations, several readers also suggest The Second Founding by historian Eric Foner ( @history_buff_, who seems, sadly, not very online). https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393652574
