Women’s Rights National Historical Park to Celebrate African American History Month on February 8th with a lecture on the Reconstruction Period

Date: January 24, 2014
Contact: David Malone, 315 568-2991 ext. 3002

Seneca Falls, NY— In celebration of African American History Month, the public is invited to hear professor Douglas Egerton, Ph. D. from Le Moyne College speak on his new book The Wars of Reconstruction on Saturday, February 8^th at 2:00 pm at Women's Rights National Historical Park.

The Dred Scott Decision in 1857 stated that African Americans were not US citizens, and therefore not afforded the rights guaranteed by the US Constitution. A mere 11 years later, the ratification of the 14th amendment granted citizenship, constitutional rights and equal protection under the law to all African Americans, including former slaves. How did the south transition from a society where African Americans had no rights under the law to a society that would guarantee full citizenship for all?

Professor Egerton will describe how the reconstruction era experienced periods of violence and strife while transforming the south from a "slaveocracy" towards a goal of universal rights without regard to race. Copies of The Wars of Reconstruction will be available for sale, along with a book signing by Professor Egerton. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/wori or call [phone]. Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/womensrightsnps) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/WomensRightsNPS) to learn more about our upcoming programs.  If you would like to be included and receive these new email announcements, send park ranger Patrick Stenshorn an email (e-mail us) to subscribe.