Arkansas: A Narrative History

by Jeannie Whayne, Jeannie Whayne

Four distinguished scholars, each focusing on a particular era, track the tensions, negotiations, and interactions among the different groups of people who have counted Arkansas as home. George Sabo III discusses Native American prehistory and the shocks of climate change and European arrival. He explores how surviving native groups carried forward economic and docial institutions, which in turn proved crucial to early colonists. Morris S. Arnold examines the native communities and the roles of minority groups and women in the development of law, government, and religion; the production of goods; and market economies. Jeannie M. Whayne shows how these multicultural relationships unfolded during hte subsequent era of American settlement. But mutuality ended when white settlers transplanted plantation agriculture and slavery to formerly native lands. Thomas DeBlack shows that the plantation society, while prosperous, also brought the state into the Civil War. He analyzes banking fiascoes, the state's reputation for violence, the mixed blessings of statehood, and the war itself. Whayne returns to discuss different groups' access to the political process; prostwar economic issues, including women's work; and the interrelated problems of industrialization, education, and race relations. The Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s, transformed political and social landscapes, but vestiges of the old attitudes and prejudices remain in place.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

447 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Kirk Lowery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before taking a vacation to Arkansas. It provides an excellent orientation for what I saw, what people who live there say and the issues the state faces going forward. I especially liked that it took Arkansas history right up to the present. It is dense reading, so don't expect to finish it in a day. Or two days. Or three.

[Meg Dendler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely everything you could want to know about Arkansas history. I read this for a class on the subject to transfer my teaching certification to the state. A bit dry, but very detailed.

[Isaac Wolter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite Arkansas Histories to date. It is a very in depth look into the history of the state. The book can be slow at times but overall is incredibly well done and worth a read if you are interested in the state and its story.

[Susan Abshier · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice way to learn history is through Narrative! This book made my Arkansas History Course intriguing and fun to learn about.

[Abby Caroline Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeah, i had to read this whole thing

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

good for a textbook, I read it like a novel

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting reading. I enjoyed learning more about Arkansas.