Re-Construction, or "A White Man's Govenment"

Art Historical Context

Created in 1868 by the renowned firm Currier & Ives, this lithograph captures the turbulent politics of the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Titled *Re-Construction, or "A White Man's Government,"* the print reflects the heated national debate over voting rights, citizenship, and the future of the South. Currier & Ives specialized in affordable, widely distributed lithographs that brought political commentary into American homes, making complex issues accessible through vivid imagery and pointed satire. The work’s dual title highlights the racial tensions of the time, contrasting the promise of Reconstruction with opposing calls for a government limited by race. As Ulysses S. Grant campaigned for the presidency that year on a platform supporting Reconstruction policies, such prints often served as visual arguments in the public sphere. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection underscores how 19th-century printmaking functioned as both art and influential political tool, preserving the era’s conflicts for modern viewers.