Product Description

Thaddeus Stevens is best known for his leadership of the radical Republicans in Congress during Reconstruction, and throughout the years historians have either glorified him or vilified him. Trefousse's balanced biography traces Stevens's career from his early days as a Pennsylvania lawyer and state legislator, when he became an outspoken advocate for black freedom and equality, to his long tenure in the House of Representatives, which culminated in his involvement in the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment and the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1490892 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

From Library Journal
History and historians have not been particularly kind to Thaddeus Stevens, Congressional leader of the Radical Republicans during Reconstruction. Despite a career as a distinguished attorney, Pennsylvania legislator, and entrepreneur, Stevens is remembered more for his desire to punish the former Confederate states before readmitting then to the Union. But the Stevens presented by Trefousse (Historical Dictionary of Reconstruction, Greenwood, 1991) is more of an egalitarian, a great orator, and a staunch opponent of slavery. He was, however, often unsuccessful in achieving his national goals and personal aspirations. Almost 50 years have passed since the last Stevens biography (Fawn Brodie's Thaddeus Stevens: Scourge of the South, LJ 10/15/59), making Trefousse's work an especially valuable addition to Civil War literature. This is now the definitive work on the Stevens. Highly recommended for all libraries.?Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., Ala
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
"Thaddeus Stevens has long deserved a discerning, fair-minded, knowledgeable, meticulous biographer; he has finally found him." -James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom

About the Author
Hans L. Trefousse is Distinguished Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is the respected author of several books on political figures during Reconstruction, including The Radical Republicans and Andrew Johnson.

Customer Reviews

Thaddeus Stevens: Nineteenth-Century Egalitarian
Hans Trefousse has done a magnificent job in portraying the "Great Commoner" and his effect on the United States. In fact, the book inspired myself and some other people in Gettysburg to start the Thaddeus Stevens Society to promote his memory. For information about the society, write The Thaddeus Stevens Society, 65 W. Middle Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or email me at rhetrick@gettysburg.edu.

About Time! A Solid Biography of Thaddeus Stevens
Thaddeus Stevens casts a long shadow in American History; a shadow that continues to bedevil the likes of Robert Bork, Anton Scalia and the so-called "original intent" crowd.

Stevens, the tactical leader of the "radical Republicans" through the Civil War and Reconstruction era stands probably second to only James Madison in Constitutional history.

Considering his historical role a thorough biography has been long overdue. Trefousse has gone a long way toward supplying a fresh biography of the man. In its pages he has applied the extensive depth of modern scholarship now available on the reconstruction era.

Only Fawne Brodie has attempted a biography in recent times and that book, Thaddeus Stevens: Scourge of the South has slid thankfully out of print.

The Trefousse biography will likely be the standard source on the life of "the old Commoner" for some decades to come.

Excellent biography!
Hans L. Trefousse wrote a definitive biography on this great Republican that helped initiated the Reconstruction period after the post-Civil War period. The sub-titled: 19th Century Egalitarian proves to be an aptly named since Stevens proves to be one of the foremost egalitarians of his century. The book clears up the myths and misconceptions that Stevens were often regarded in and set the records straight. Well written, nicely researched and with superbly insights, I can only wished that the book went even deeper into Stevens' life.

The book also goes into Stevens' strengths, weaknesses and his troubles. I thought it was a honest effort on the part of the author to showed the reader the complete man and the account of Stevens' life proves to be balance and fair.

One of the more interesting aspects of this book lies within the struggled between Stevens and Andrew Johnson. The fight between "reconstruction of the south" to the "restoration of the south". This struggle had far reaching consequences in our nation's politics as well as racial relationship. Although product of his time and era, Stevens proves to be far ahead of himself in terms of race relations. It was interesting to learned that his concerns lies not only with the blacks but also toward Indians and Orientals. The book reflects accurately in the end that Stevens was a true egalitarian in the truest form.