German Immigrants, Race, and Citizenship in the Civil War Era [Hardcover]

This study reframes Civil War-era history, arguing that the Franco-Prussian War contributed to a dramatic pivot in Northern commitment to African-American rights.Alison Clark Effords study reframes Civil Warera history, arguing that the commitment of German Americans to African-American rights pivoted dramatically in 1870 in response to the Franco-Prussian War. This influential group reevaluated the liberal nationalism underpinning African-American suffrage, influencing other white Northerners and shaping citizenship law.Alison Clark Effords study reframes Civil Warera history, arguing that the commitment of German Americans to African-American rights pivoted dramatically in 1870 in response to the Franco-Prussian War. This influential group reevaluated the liberal nationalism underpinning African-American suffrage, influencing other white Northerners and shaping citizenship law.This study of Civil Warera politics explores how German immigrants influenced the rise and fall of white commitment to African-American rights. Intertwining developments in Europe and North America, Alison Clark Efford describes how the presence of naturalized citizens affected the status of former slaves and identifies 1870 as a crucial turning point. That year, the Franco-Prussian War prompted German immigrants to reevaluate the liberal nationalism underpinning African-American suffrage. Throughout the period, the newcomers approach to race, ethnicity, gender, and political economy shaped American citizenship law.Introduction: naturalized citizens, transnational perspectives, and the arc of reconstruction; 1. The German language of American citizenship; 2. The 'freedom-loving German', 185460; 3. Black suffrage as a German cause in Missouri, 1865; 4. Principal rising, 18659; 5. Wendepunkt: the Franco-Prussian War, 18701; 6. The Liberal Republican transition, 18702; 7. Class, culture, and the decline of reconstruction, 18706; Epilogue: the Great Strike of 1877; Appendix: voting talÃ%