Most of what we know about how the Civil War affected life in the Confederacy is related to cities; troop movements; battles; and prominent political; economic; or military leaders. Far less is known about the people who lived in small Southern towns remote from marching armies or battles. Philip N. Racine explores life in one such place--Spartanburg; South Carolina--in an effort to reshape the contours of that great conflict.By 1864 life in most of the Confederacy; but especially in rural towns; was characterized by scarcity; high prices; uncertainty; fear; and bad-tempered neighbors. Shortages of food were common. People lived with constant anxiety that a soldiering father or son would be killed or wounded. Taxes were high; inflation was rampant; good news was scarce and seemed to always be followed by bad. The slave population was growing restive as their masters' bad news was their good news. Army deserters were threatening lawlessness; accusations and vindictiveness colored the atmosphere and added to the anxiety; fear; and feeling of helplessness. Often people blamed their troubles on the Confederate government in faraway Richmond; Virginia.Racine provides insight into these events through personal stories: the plight of a slave; the struggles of a war widow managing her husband's farm; ten slaves; and seven children; and the trauma of a lowcountry refugee's having to forfeit a wealthy; aristocratic way of life and being thrust into relative poverty and an alien social world. All were part of the complexity of wartime Spartanburg District.
#3358093 in Books 2011-06-14 2011-06-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .31 x 6.00l; .66 #File Name: 1609491637192 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. New to AmericaBy John Dusterberry"Immigrants in Hoboken: One-Way Ticket; 1845-1985" is a well-researched book describing the waves of nationalities of Europeans who came to the New World through the port of Hoboken; the American home port of many of the trans-Atlantic shipping lines. It includes graphic descriptions; both of individual and national groups of those who stayed in Hoboken and how they influenced the life-style; business; and government of the city over several centuries. The recent past is not neglected as there are colorful views of the Puerto Ricans who are still arriving. Because they are already US citizens Ziegler-McPherson describes well how these new immigrants offer both different problems of and different solutions to the American melting pot. The book is obviously the result of careful scholarship; and it is also a good read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Concise; thorough history of Hoboken's populationBy mgabernathyLoved it. As a long-time Hoboken resident; I have picked up a vague sense of Hoboken's population trends the primary ethnic groups that have lived here; but after reading "Immigrants in Hoboken;" I have a much stronger sense of Hoboken's cultural history. Ziegler-McPherson grounds her engrossing book in hard data and detailed research to show how the waves of Germans; Irish; Italians; Puerto Ricans; and smaller groups of other origins settled Hoboken and influenced its political; business and cultural development. And; it's a quick read! I sat down with this book on Monday afternoon and finished it by dinner. I highly recommend it.
