Eric Foner: John Jay Lectures: Eric Foner, Professor of History at Columbia University, discusses his book The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution. 

In his book, Foner explores the circumstances under which the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, which bolished slavery, defined birthright citizenship, and prohibited denial of the right to vote based on race, were passed. And the ways in which they’re being interpreted still.  Such as the 2013 Supreme Court case, wherein the court declined to use the 15th Amendment to strike down laws which make it more difficult for non-whites to vote. Foner is the winner of the Pulitzer, Bancroft and Lincoln Prizes, as well as multiple other awards and honors. Purchase tickets now.