Common myths of the Reconstruction Era perpetuated by textbooks are examined and positive information to counter these myths is provided. The presentation of Reconstruction in 12 secondary level U.S. history textbooks, published between 1979 and 1982, is analyzed. The myths that are examined include the following: blacks were helpless and confused during Reconstruction, the freedpeople drifted aimlessly about the South, the land redistribution issue was an unfounded notion, freed blacks lacked the skills needed to build independent lives, white men played the central role in post-war social change, blacks were not smart, no white violence was used to overturn Reconstruction's gains, Southern white men were not very successful lawmakers, Northern whites who participated in the Reconstruction governments were greedy adventurers and Reconstruction governments were often corrupt. Also included are a bibliography of readings, a chronology of events of the Reconstruction Era, a list of textbooks used in the study, and statistics concerning blacks in our society. (RM)