A History of Appalachia

Rating:
Summary: Appalachia Defined
Review: A HISTORY OF APPALACHIA is a well-written, history of Appalachia. The introduction notes that "....there are those who reserve as Appalachia only those areas of the Southern Appalachians that are 'real mountains." The author's definition is broader including "all of the provinces of the Southern Appalachian" and extends to western Pennsylvania.

The book is organized in three parts. Part 1, titled THE CONTEST FOR APPALACHIA, covers the period from the Indians through the American Revolution. The author writes "The principal class who migrated to America after 1715 were mostly folk who shared a....desire for land to support their basically simple lives." These migrants passed through the coastal area and settled in the backwoods where small acreages were cleared and became basically a predominately yeoman (farm) economy.

Part 2, THE NEW NATION AND THE APPALACHIAN BACKWOODS, covers the period through the Civil War. While Appalachia supported the Revolution, they had no representation at the constitutional debates of 1787-1789. "By 1800 quite a different European-derived society had developed along the Appalachian frontier" and the author notes that a "snug little rivalry" developed between the east and west sections of the eastern states. Appalachia supported the War of 1812 when loyalty soared in the Appalachian backwoods but divisive issues would soon appear.

The text notes "most small farmers in East Tennessee, northern Georgia, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky usually identified more strongly with the....Union." These areas were often identified with the Radical Republican during Reconstruction.; however, by 1876 the ex-Confederates had again assumed control. The text briefly discusses the feuds of the era noting many were active "before the Civil War."

The author notes that after the Civil War in the remoteness of mountain regions far from adequate transportation ", a remarkable similar way of life developed in Appalachia's most isolated sections" which resulted in increased isolation reinforcing a stereotype about a 'strange and peculiar people."

MODERN APPALACHIA, Part 3, narrates the period from Post-Reconstruction to the year 2000 covering the Industrial Revolution, the Depression, the War on Poverty, and finally the dawning of the Information Age. As the text notes "Appalachia has always been a complex area." From "1865 to 1920, Appalachia was discovered" and defined "by literate America who were northern writers. The picture that emerged was often grossly inaccurate, based on stereotype and self-serving characteristics." For example, "....the word hillbilly did not appear until 1900 when a New York Journal reporter defined such people as 'free and untrammelled white' citizens living in the hills' with 'no means to speak of, 'who dresses as he can,'drinks whiskey, and fires off his revolver as fancy takes him."

During the machine age the mineral exploitation of the area took place and in many areas of the Great Valley significant industrial developments followed the railroads with an area like the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia becoming what was called "the American Ruhr. "By 1900 all the coalfields in West Virginia....were in full production." Lumbering also became an important Appalachian industry.

Tourism was another commercial activity that invaded the cultural traditional of Appalachian society, aided by the development of the National Forests of Appalachia and the emergence of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.. However, the exploitation of region's fossil fuels was the major industrial invasion.

The author states that Appalachia went from a plutocracy to the Welfare State and back again to the present governing by the rich and powerful. With the collapse of the country's market system during the Depression new life came into the yeoman system of self-sufficient agriculture. "Because of the great economic maladjustments in Appalachia's major industries....large numbers of people were able to qualify for welfare benefits"....with the nations welfare system growing out of New Deal reform measurers. The War on Poverty, 1964 to 1968, resulted in 1965 of the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission which remains active today benefiting the region. Regarding welfare reform, the author makes the interesting observation that "Even yet in Appalachia, it may be that the only reform that can succeed must be seen through the lens of yeomanry."

The text notes "...the region's society is far more diversified than the traditional picture painted as a stable enclave of Anglo-Saxon, Scotch-Irish, and Germans." The 1930s and WWII brought important changes to the Appalachian culture. During WWII, there was a mass migration of Appalachians north for employment. Also, there was the wartime industrial growth in Appalachian fossil fuel extraction and the development of the chemical industry in West Virginia. Unfortunately, the text notes "The regional picture in Appalachia since the 1980s has been generally gloomy."

Chapter 13 discusses the Appalachian Mind noting that "....the area began to find its own scholarly voice soon after World War II" and states this scholarship betrays a strong anger against American corporate capitalism and "....attests to the kind of tragic picture that Appalachian history presents."

The final chapter discusses the future of Appalachia noting "As coal and agriculture,...., move into further decline, the essentially insatiable industries of education, health services, recreation, and tourism will provide the major job opportunities in the future." Regarding the future, the text concludes " There is, and in fact has always been, a place for a viable, yeomanesque-style of life that is attractive to those unwilling or unable to join the mainstream's affluence." Shades of today's politician's statements about "the family farm."

The Source listing for this book is excellent. Instead of a long alphabetical and/or type listing of sources, sources are listed separately for each chapter so that the reader can determine the author's sources plus read in further depth if desired.

The only technical error I noted is on page 200 where the author stated that the nuclear fuel for the atomic bombs was processed "At its vast Centrifugal Plant, Oak Ridge...." The fuel for these bombs was processed at the Oak Gaseous Diffusion Plant NOT at a Centrifugal Plant. An Oak Ridge Centrifugal test loop wasn't built until the 1970s

Rating:
Summary: A cut-and-paste history
Review: A HISTORY OF APPALACHIA is a well-written, history of Appalachia. The introduction notes that "....there are those who reserve as Appalachia only those areas of the Southern Appalachians that are `real mountains." The author's definition is broader including "all of the provinces of the Southern Appalachian" and extends to western Pennsylvania.

The book is organized in three parts. Part 1, titled THE CONTEST FOR APPALACHIA, covers the period from the Indians through the American Revolution. The author writes "The principal class who migrated to America after 1715 were mostly folk who shared a....desire for land to support their basically simple lives." These migrants passed through the coastal area and settled in the backwoods where small acreages were cleared and became basically a predominately yeoman (farm) economy.

Part 2, THE NEW NATION AND THE APPALACHIAN BACKWOODS, covers the period through the Civil War. While Appalachia supported the Revolution, they had no representation at the constitutional debates of 1787-1789. "By 1800 quite a different European-derived society had developed along the Appalachian frontier" and the author notes that a "snug little rivalry" developed between the east and west sections of the eastern states. Appalachia supported the War of 1812 when loyalty soared in the Appalachian backwoods but divisive issues would soon appear.

The text notes "most small farmers in East Tennessee, northern Georgia, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky usually identified more strongly with the....Union." These areas were often identified with the Radical Republican during Reconstruction.; however, by 1876 the ex-Confederates had again assumed control. The text briefly discusses the feuds of the era noting many were active "before the Civil War."

The author notes that after the Civil War in the remoteness of mountain regions far from adequate transportation ", a remarkable similar way of life developed in Appalachia's most isolated sections" which resulted in increased isolation reinforcing a stereotype about a `strange and peculiar people."

MODERN APPALACHIA, Part 3, narrates the period from Post-Reconstruction to the year 2000 covering the Industrial Revolution, the Depression, the War on Poverty, and finally the dawning of the Information Age. As the text notes "Appalachia has always been a complex area." From "1865 to 1920, Appalachia was discovered" and defined "by literate America who were northern writers. The picture that emerged was often grossly inaccurate, based on stereotype and self-serving characteristics." For example, "....the word hillbilly did not appear until 1900 when a New York Journal reporter defined such people as `free and untrammelled white' citizens living in the hills' with `no means to speak of, `who dresses as he can,'drinks whiskey, and fires off his revolver as fancy takes him."

During the machine age the mineral exploitation of the area took place and in many areas of the Great Valley significant industrial developments followed the railroads with an area like the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia becoming what was called "the American Ruhr. "By 1900 all the coalfields in West Virginia....were in full production." Lumbering also became an important Appalachian industry.

Tourism was another commercial activity that invaded the cultural traditional of Appalachian society, aided by the development of the National Forests of Appalachia and the emergence of The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.. However, the exploitation of region's fossil fuels was the major industrial invasion.

The author states that Appalachia went from a plutocracy to the Welfare State and back again to the present governing by the rich and powerful. With the collapse of the country's market system during the Depression new life came into the yeoman system of self-sufficient agriculture. "Because of the great economic maladjustments in Appalachia's major industries....large numbers of people were able to qualify for welfare benefits"....with the nations welfare system growing out of New Deal reform measurers. The War on Poverty, 1964 to 1968, resulted in 1965 of the formation of the Appalachian Regional Commission which remains active today benefiting the region. Regarding welfare reform, the author makes the interesting observation that "Even yet in Appalachia, it may be that the only reform that can succeed must be seen through the lens of yeomanry."

The text notes "...the region's society is far more diversified than the traditional picture painted as a stable enclave of Anglo-Saxon, Scotch-Irish, and Germans." The 1930s and WWII brought important changes to the Appalachian culture. During WWII, there was a mass migration of Appalachians north for employment. Also, there was the wartime industrial growth in Appalachian fossil fuel extraction and the development of the chemical industry in West Virginia. Unfortunately, the text notes "The regional picture in Appalachia since the 1980s has been generally gloomy."

Chapter 13 discusses the Appalachian Mind noting that "....the area began to find its own scholarly voice soon after World War II" and states this scholarship betrays a strong anger against American corporate capitalism and "....attests to the kind of tragic picture that Appalachian history presents."

The final chapter discusses the future of Appalachia noting "As coal and agriculture,...., move into further decline, the essentially insatiable industries of education, health services, recreation, and tourism will provide the major job opportunities in the future." Regarding the future, the text concludes " There is, and in fact has always been, a place for a viable, yeomanesque-style of life that is attractive to those unwilling or unable to join the mainstream's affluence." Shades of today's politician's statements about "the family farm."

The Source listing for this book is excellent. Instead of a long alphabetical and/or type listing of sources, sources are listed separately for each chapter so that the reader can determine the author's sources plus read in further depth if desired.

The only technical error I noted is on page 200 where the author stated that the nuclear fuel for the atomic bombs was processed "At its vast Centrifugal Plant, Oak Ridge...." The fuel for these bombs was processed at the Oak Gaseous Diffusion Plant NOT at a Centrifugal Plant. An Oak Ridge Centrifugal test loop wasn't built until the 1970s

Rating:
Summary: A cut-and-paste history
Review: The author, strangely for an expert, does not present a coherent vision of the history of the area. Little nuggets of information are strung along, as if he has cut-and-pasted this history together, without any real mastery of the subject. The pace is consequently choppy, as bits and pieces are seemingly added as they occur to him, without plan. The space allotted to each topic is equally random. It is possible that these problems have their roots in his straining to be seen as a revisionist historian, tidying up the history of Appalachia for the tastes and prejudices of 21st-century readers. The choppiness allows for suspicious omissions or digressions. This makes him appear to be an unreliable, uncertain source of information about the region. The editing makes the book seem even more unreliable. Quotations are not cited, and what sort of editor lets through the use of "of course" multiple times on a single page?