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The Tar Heel State: A New History of North Carolina
When first released in 2005, The Tar Heel State was celebrated as a comprehensive contribution to North Carolina's historical record. In this revised edition historian Milton Ready brings the text up to date, sharpens his narrative on the periods surrounding the American Revolution and the Civil War and offers new chapters on the 1920s; World War II and the 1950s; and the confrontation between Jim Hunt, North Carolina's longest-serving governor, and Jesse Helms, a transformational, if controversial, political presence in the state for more than thirty years.
Ready's distinctive view of the state's history integrates tales of famous pioneers, statesmen, soldiers, farmers, and captains of industry; as well as community leaders with often-marginalized voices, including those of African Americans, women, and the LGBTQ+ community that have roiled North Carolina for decades.
This beautifully illustrated volume gives readers a view of North Carolina that encompasses perspectives from the coast, the Tobacco Road region, the Piedmont, and the mountains. From the civil rights struggle to the building of research triangles, triads, and parks, Ready recounts the people, events, and dramatic demographic shifts since the 1990s, as well as the state's role in the rise of modern political conservatism and subsequent emergence as a modern megastate. In a concluding chapter Ready assesses the current state of North Carolina, noting the conflicting legacies of progressivism and conservatism that continue to influence the state's political, social, and cultural identities.
Ready's distinctive view of the state's history integrates tales of famous pioneers, statesmen, soldiers, farmers, and captains of industry; as well as community leaders with often-marginalized voices, including those of African Americans, women, and the LGBTQ+ community that have roiled North Carolina for decades.
This beautifully illustrated volume gives readers a view of North Carolina that encompasses perspectives from the coast, the Tobacco Road region, the Piedmont, and the mountains. From the civil rights struggle to the building of research triangles, triads, and parks, Ready recounts the people, events, and dramatic demographic shifts since the 1990s, as well as the state's role in the rise of modern political conservatism and subsequent emergence as a modern megastate. In a concluding chapter Ready assesses the current state of North Carolina, noting the conflicting legacies of progressivism and conservatism that continue to influence the state's political, social, and cultural identities.
- GenresHistory
424 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 8, 2015
Unlike the posters for the Bob Dylan concert I attended a couple of years ago that placed Asheville in South Carolina, the publisher's identity is not a typo, but it might be the punchline of a good joke.
Survey history of North Carolina establishes the beginnings of the state as a poor step-child to Virginia and South Carolina due to its lack of major cities, the barrier islands blocking shipping, its east-west orientation merging disparate regions and populations, and its North-South flowing rivers that drove commerce across its borders.
It also traces its hesitant political history as reluctant signators to the Constitution, then reluctant secessionists to the Confederacy and reluctant and split participants in the war (despite the highest per capita dead and wounded in the conflict), then somewhat enlightened New Southerners afterward.
Despite some awkward writing (Ready is a stronger historian then a writer), and an inexplicable complete bypassing of the 1920s, the survey covers the main scope and sweep of NC history well.
Survey history of North Carolina establishes the beginnings of the state as a poor step-child to Virginia and South Carolina due to its lack of major cities, the barrier islands blocking shipping, its east-west orientation merging disparate regions and populations, and its North-South flowing rivers that drove commerce across its borders.
It also traces its hesitant political history as reluctant signators to the Constitution, then reluctant secessionists to the Confederacy and reluctant and split participants in the war (despite the highest per capita dead and wounded in the conflict), then somewhat enlightened New Southerners afterward.
Despite some awkward writing (Ready is a stronger historian then a writer), and an inexplicable complete bypassing of the 1920s, the survey covers the main scope and sweep of NC history well.
February 16, 2021
If you have any interest in North Carolina history or in North Carolina in general, this is probably a must-read, mostly because as far as I know it is the only book out there specializing in general North Carolina history. For example, I found it quite interesting to read how Thomas Cary attempted a coup of the colony, since there is a city named after him now, or how William Tryon was generally a devious bad person (and much in the state is named after him). But if you're not in NC these names probably mean nothing to you.
All in all I'm very happy I read it since it taught me much more of the background and history of the state I live in.
Some of my notes:
North Carolina's original name was Virginia, and the first English person born in the Colonies was called Virginia Dare, after the state.
Thomas Cary's attempt at a coup almost spelled the end of the colony (p. 44)
Blackbeard basically strong armed his way into the state, intimidated the governor and was able to get a royal pardon (since the governor was allowed to issue them). (p.45)
Virginia decided to invade North Carolina (p. 46)
NC split from SC in 1712
Raleigh was chosen as a capital despite there not being yet a city of Raleigh. It was a location (Lane's plantation) close to Hunter's Tavern, where many Westerners (who were in control at the time) liked to drink. The Easterners preferred an established city such as Fayetteville. (p. 152)
Thomas Jefferson hired Antonio Canova to create a bust of Washington for the Raleigh statehouse (p. 152)
The Conscription Act (1862) by the confederacy angered many in NC and throughout the south. It went against State rights. (p. 232)
"Reborn as North Carolinians and US citizens after the civil war, ex-slaves sought first not the right to vote, hold office, serve on juries, or own property, but the freedom to bind their families together, both legally and traditionally" (p. 261)
After the 1932 election, Democrats were the liberal party for the entire country except the South (p. 323)
Very interesting how segregation was seen as a progressive move by many. Since the KKK and the red shirts were terrorizing black people, and especially after the Wilmington massacre, it was thought by many that segregation would bring about peace and allow each race to continue with their affairs.
"events of the 1930s tended to divide southern Democrats from their more liberal party members nationwide and to lay the foundations for the shift to Republicanism two decades later. Indeed, after World War II, some southern Democrats, unhappy with Roosevelt and Truman's liberalism, especially on civil rights, seceded from the Democrats altogether and established their own Dixiecrat Party in 1948" (p. 338)
Barry Goldwater took advantage of this situation. Republicans emerged as the States rights party. Goldwater believed Southern Democrats longed for change. Race was almost never mentioned, but would underlie almost everything (p. 353)
New code words replaced older more blunt vernacular of segregation and white supremacy (p. 355)
Some companies founded in NC: Pepsi, Cheerwine, Krispy Kreme, Food Lion, Ingles, Family Dollar, Belk's (p. 380-1)
All in all I'm very happy I read it since it taught me much more of the background and history of the state I live in.
Some of my notes:
North Carolina's original name was Virginia, and the first English person born in the Colonies was called Virginia Dare, after the state.
Thomas Cary's attempt at a coup almost spelled the end of the colony (p. 44)
Blackbeard basically strong armed his way into the state, intimidated the governor and was able to get a royal pardon (since the governor was allowed to issue them). (p.45)
Virginia decided to invade North Carolina (p. 46)
NC split from SC in 1712
Raleigh was chosen as a capital despite there not being yet a city of Raleigh. It was a location (Lane's plantation) close to Hunter's Tavern, where many Westerners (who were in control at the time) liked to drink. The Easterners preferred an established city such as Fayetteville. (p. 152)
Thomas Jefferson hired Antonio Canova to create a bust of Washington for the Raleigh statehouse (p. 152)
The Conscription Act (1862) by the confederacy angered many in NC and throughout the south. It went against State rights. (p. 232)
"Reborn as North Carolinians and US citizens after the civil war, ex-slaves sought first not the right to vote, hold office, serve on juries, or own property, but the freedom to bind their families together, both legally and traditionally" (p. 261)
After the 1932 election, Democrats were the liberal party for the entire country except the South (p. 323)
Very interesting how segregation was seen as a progressive move by many. Since the KKK and the red shirts were terrorizing black people, and especially after the Wilmington massacre, it was thought by many that segregation would bring about peace and allow each race to continue with their affairs.
"events of the 1930s tended to divide southern Democrats from their more liberal party members nationwide and to lay the foundations for the shift to Republicanism two decades later. Indeed, after World War II, some southern Democrats, unhappy with Roosevelt and Truman's liberalism, especially on civil rights, seceded from the Democrats altogether and established their own Dixiecrat Party in 1948" (p. 338)
Barry Goldwater took advantage of this situation. Republicans emerged as the States rights party. Goldwater believed Southern Democrats longed for change. Race was almost never mentioned, but would underlie almost everything (p. 353)
New code words replaced older more blunt vernacular of segregation and white supremacy (p. 355)
Some companies founded in NC: Pepsi, Cheerwine, Krispy Kreme, Food Lion, Ingles, Family Dollar, Belk's (p. 380-1)
June 12, 2023
Project Read-a-History-of-Every-State-in-Order-of-Statehood #12
Having spent a lot of enjoyable times in North Carolina during my life, usually the eastern part of the state, I was taken aback at what an apparently ambiguous and a little shitty of a history it had. Largely a failed state until relatively recently, NC is a textbook case of a state that refuses to advance and progress, content to stay stuck in the foul pudding of something-or-other, the past, maybe.
What gives? NC is the state of all the great basketball, beaches, mountains, and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet! But NC is also a good example of a state that fails itself, a state that has a long tradition of disregarding its peoples' needs: need I say anything about its African-American citizens, covered to an admirable extent here? You will find a complete lack of interest in educational institutions until it was too late; racist politicians and voter disenfranchisement, a hesitant entry into the Civil War as part of the Confederacy, an even more hesitant desire to rejoin the Union, a Klan running rampant and gleeful through the streets of NC's cities, the abominable Jesse Helms, and so on.
But Ready focuses on the good stuff too, and with a refreshing, not preachy, inclusive manner: the great universities there, all the interesting upper southern culture, the food, and so on, so it isn't all bad, but NC is sure a lot more baffling than I originally thought it was.
Having spent a lot of enjoyable times in North Carolina during my life, usually the eastern part of the state, I was taken aback at what an apparently ambiguous and a little shitty of a history it had. Largely a failed state until relatively recently, NC is a textbook case of a state that refuses to advance and progress, content to stay stuck in the foul pudding of something-or-other, the past, maybe.
What gives? NC is the state of all the great basketball, beaches, mountains, and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet! But NC is also a good example of a state that fails itself, a state that has a long tradition of disregarding its peoples' needs: need I say anything about its African-American citizens, covered to an admirable extent here? You will find a complete lack of interest in educational institutions until it was too late; racist politicians and voter disenfranchisement, a hesitant entry into the Civil War as part of the Confederacy, an even more hesitant desire to rejoin the Union, a Klan running rampant and gleeful through the streets of NC's cities, the abominable Jesse Helms, and so on.
But Ready focuses on the good stuff too, and with a refreshing, not preachy, inclusive manner: the great universities there, all the interesting upper southern culture, the food, and so on, so it isn't all bad, but NC is sure a lot more baffling than I originally thought it was.
July 17, 2023
As someone who was not all that familiar with the Tar Heel state and wanted to learn more about it, Milton Ready's "The Tar Heel State: A New History of North Carolina" is a book that does a fantastic job with the history of this state which is far more "unusual" than any other state's history that I've ever encountered. From its attempts to being the first permanent settlement in North America to for the English to the first state to declare independence from the British to a time where the state was known as the "Rip Van Winkle State" through the challenges of the Civil War, the 1898 Wilmington Race riot, Jim Crow, desegregation & more this state has a history that is complicated as it is complex. Ready brings all the details of the history through the early 21st century as we the reader understand the unique challenges at times that this colony & eventual state took as well as it's laissez faire attitude sometimes about events around it as well as the people's stubborn behaviors which worked before with and against it through time. This patchwork of things as well as the industries that make this state what it is make this history so very unique & a tale of the 12th state in the US as one definitely worth telling. This book is one that anyone who is a native Tar Heel or just a visitor with an interest in the state will absolutely enjoy.
July 30, 2017
What an incredible amount of information this author put together. I learned a lot about the early history North Carolina and about the native Americans, racial issues and history of the state. Just wish there was an addendum from 2000 to now! The chapters on the revolution and civil wars did not flow as well as the rest of the book but were still good.
July 4, 2022
Good Historical Read
Most of the book was a good historical read, but the author relied too much on statistical numbers that made the ending and some parts of the seam dry and monotone. The make-up of any state is more than the numbers. The statistics don’t really matter as much as facts. There are some good facts and information in first toe-thirds of the book.
Most of the book was a good historical read, but the author relied too much on statistical numbers that made the ending and some parts of the seam dry and monotone. The make-up of any state is more than the numbers. The statistics don’t really matter as much as facts. There are some good facts and information in first toe-thirds of the book.
September 19, 2016
A good overview of the state's history, occasionally spoiled by pompous editorializing. I found it useful mainly for the additional readings listed at the end of each chapter.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews