Nothing But Freedom Analysis

Both books Nothing but Freedom by Eric Foner and Standing at Armageddon by Nell Irvin Painter both represent many aspects of history throughout their books. As well as exploring the events that have happened, they also exhibit many issues along with each area of history. Both of these together make these books valuable sources of information.
Throughout the novel Nothing but Freedom by Eric Foner, Foner explores the major outcomes that the South of the United States experienced through the emancipation of slaves. Foner accurately portrays the power that the emancipated freedman and white land owners fought for and struggled over. One example of this constant struggle provided by Foner was the establishment of the Black Codes. The Black Codes …show more content…
The theme of resistance is presented in Nothing but Freedom with the newly emancipated freedmen in the United States trying to establish themselves as individuals and citizens of the United States who have their natural rights. The freedmen tried to work and live as every other ordinary individual but had to deal with being kept oppressed by the white citizens due to the many state laws in the southern states which refused to perceive them as people with equal natural rights like any other white man had. Standing at Armageddon has the similar issue in which the working class is being oppressed by the upper-class in order for them to maintain their superiority. The working class had to try to fight for their rights as people to have suitable working and living conditions, which was a privilege provided to those who were a part of the upper-class. Within both situations, there is a sense of resistance from a specific group of people who are being oppressed by others who have the power to do …show more content…
Foner’s bias is focuses towards the American reconstruction within the United States and how it was more successful than those of other societies. Within Nothing but Freedom, the comparisons Foner made between the United States and other societies represent how American reconstruction could be considered a success compared to that of the other societies. Foner’s bias toward American reconstruction does not affect the information being told because Foner uses the comparisons of the different societies as evidence to show that American reconstruction in the United States was, in fact, more helpful to the emancipated freedmen in the unlike the reconstructions in the other