Much like the rest of the nation; South Central Pennsylvania struggled with slavery. The institution lingered locally for more than fifty years; although it was virtually extinct everywhere else within Pennsylvania. Gradually; antislavery views prevailed. The Appalachian Mountains and the Susquehanna River provided natural cover for fleeing slaves; causing an influx of travel along the Underground Railroad. Locals like William Wright and James McAllister assisted these runaways while publicly advocating to abolish slavery. Historian Cooper Wingert reveals the struggles between slavery and abolition in South Central Pennsylvania.
#749159 in Books 2016-02-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.00 x 6.00l; .0 #File Name: 1459733126216 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Cape Breton's Mysteries Continue to UnfoldBy PastAgesandFutureWorldsIt's been a decade since Chiasson wrote The Island of Seven Cities; the book that made many rethink early exploration in the Americas. Now he returns to Cape Breton Island to explore new ruins finding more ancient mysteries. Unlike some who write on these topics and grasp at straws or do little research; Chiasson has uncovered more evidences pointing to explorers predating the French and English. It continues to defy logic that this island is ignored; even when the natives of the region assert these early explorers existed - and their own culture appears to have taken cues from the Chinese. Chiasson also examines the claims made concerning the Zen brothers and Sinclair landing in the region. As he points out; supporting evidence is often thin as some present it; but is it completely without merit? I too agree that equating Sinclar with Zichmni is a stretch; but I have read elsewhere that Sinclair was often spelled "Zincler;" which opens up a whole different possibility. One of the more deeper studies of Zen/Sinclair reaching the New World is Irresistible North. Regardless; this area seems to be part of a region that had seen much activity pre-Columbus; from Vikings to possibly now the Chinese. Menzies really opened the idea of Chinese in the New World with 1421: The Year China Discovered America; though sometimes hurt himself by throwing in every tenuous evidence (his Who Discovered America? solidified his argument better). Chiasson's books have laid out the groundwork for serious inquiry into where and when the ancient Chinese fleets landed. In 2016; evidence of a second Viking site was found; so will people start to take seriously other sites and evidence of pre-1492 explorers? Or will we continue to cling to outdated bias that has long ago been discredited?1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Important New Historical DiscoveriesBy DAVID ALLENI admire Chiasson's writing and find his take on these ruins very convincing. I had never heard of the idea that Chinese settled Cape Breton and Nova Scotia before the Europeans did. I think he has done a very thorough analysis of this subject and is willing to go in courageous new directions in Canadian history. Of course he finds a lot of opposition; this always happens when controversial new evidence emerges. He sticks to the facts he has come upon and doesn't expand on all the possibilities these new developments imply. I wish he did a little more of that. This book focuses on one little town and the ruins he comes across are not remarkably interesting; certainly not something like Stonehenge; but the fact that he proves they are pre-European is the fascinating part. My only problem with the book is he is making a whole book out of a somewhat dry story about this one little area. To accomplish this he bring in other controversies about who else may have appeared in Nova Scotia and how early. His attention to details; while demonstrating thorough research can be a little more than I really desire to read about. I certainly hope Mr. Chiasson writes more books about this subject; I believe there are many more ruins to find and the implications of his writing will upset the whole colonial settlement applecart in eastern Canada.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Truly Odd Historical Clues Make Cape Breton Island Very DifferentBy L. Thomas Ramsey"Written in the Ruins" is a valuable; must-read follow-up to Paul Chiasson's earlier book; "The Island of Seven Cities". The earlier book argues that a large site on Cape Breton was built by Chinese explorers before Columbus. "Written in the Ruins" interprets a second site of ruins on Cape Breton Island. The second book updates the reader about the controversial first site and interprets the ruins (and stories) about a second site on Cape Breton. I am impressed by the diverse historical sources brought to light by Mr. Chiasson; sources that provide striking clues that Cape Breton is indeed "different" enough to warrant thorough archaeological exploration. I am also impressed by his thorough review of criticisms that have been offered to the first book (see also three short youtube videos that address these effectively). Chiasson has helped open the door to an expanded history of North America; I look forward to learning that someone has walked through that door by scientifically excavating parts of the two sites.
