Born in the Country: A History of Rural America (Revisiting Rural America) 2nd Edition

Revisiting Rural America

by David B. Danbom

Born in the Country was the first—and is still the only—general history of rural America published. Ranging from pre-Columbian times to the enormous changes of the twentieth century, Born in the Country masterfully integrates agricultural, technological, and economic themes with new questions social historians have raised about the American experience—including the different experiences of whites and blacks, men and women, natives and new immigrants. In this second edition, David B. Danbom expands and deepens his coverage of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, focusing on the changes in agriculture and rural life since 1945. He discusses the alarming decline of agriculture as a productive enterprise and the parallel disintegration of farm families into demographic insignificance. In a new and provocative afterword, Danbom reflects on whether a distinctive style of rural life exists any longer. Combining mastery of existing scholarship with a fresh approach to new material, Born in the Country continues to define the field of American rural history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Agriculture

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Will finish some day. Good but dry.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

"America" had been a rural economy since it was invaded by Europeans. This is a history of how rural life, read farming, evolved and has been a part of American history (and myth) since that time until maybe WW II and has had an effect on US politics even now. Though the country now has a lot fewer family farms the agriculture lobby (and rural areas) have an undeserved impact on the US. What started out as a preponderance of the population being farmers has become only about 1.5% of the population fitting that category. While most family farmers had been self sufficient and produced goods for sale they have been absorbed into agricultural corporations growing just a few commodities.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive look at the evolution of rural America done in a scholarly way with enough trivia to make the journey engaging and interesting. Though written in 1995 the story of the growth and decline of the farm economy in the United States remains relevant today. He highlights the role of the President in power over the ages to influence the growth and decline of agriculture. He analyses the merits of programs, legislation enacted over the years and its impact at the time and years later on the economy of the nation and the world.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

good overview of the history of farming in the US, but not necessarily of rurality

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my Rural America seminar...excellent book for the history...not that entertaining, though that isn't its purpose.