In this Virginia History Blog, we look at elements of the Virginia Antebellum society. Progress in a slave society is examined in “Railroads in the Old South”. White male culture is explored in “Military Education and the Emerging Middle Class” and in Brothers of a Vow” about secret fraternal orders. The slaveholder’s perspective of slavery...
"Antebellum Society, 2009-11"Continue reading
In this five-part review of Civil War Era literature at the Virginia History Blog, we will take a look at period topics in politics, war commands, home front, economy, slavery and memory. Turning to politics, “Crucible of the Civil War” is a series of essays looking at the Virginia experience from secession through post-war commemorations....
"Civil War Era Politics"Continue reading
This second revised blog on “Secession comes to Virginia” begins with a review of the “Roots of Secession” in slave-holding Virginia. “Road to Disunion” investigates the divisions among Southerners. “Apostles of Disunion” describes the appeals of the Deep South commissioners to border state secessionist conventions, “Showdown in Virginia” relates the delegate debate in convention, and...
"Secession Comes to Virginia – part two (revised)"Continue reading
We begin our survey of Secession comes to Virginia with three books related to the American mind as the crisis of secession and civil war approached. “The Slave Power” describes Southern state domination of U.S. national government first in the Congressional Caucus system, and then in the Second Party System of nominating conventions and nationalized...
"Secession Comes to Virginia part one"Continue reading
