Old Dominion, New Commonwealth

by Heinemann, Ronald L.

• ISBN13: 9780813926094
• ISBN10: 0813926092
• Format: Cloth
• Copyright: 2007-03-15
• Publisher: Univ of Virginia Pr

Summary

"On the morning of 26 April 1607, three small ships carrying 143 Englishmen arrived off the Virginia coast of North America, having spent four months at sea.... All hoped for financial success and perhaps a little adventure; as it turned out, their tiny settlement eventually would evolve from colony into a prominent state in an entirely new nation." So begins Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007 and the remarkable story behind the founding not only of the state of Virginia but of our nation. With this book, the historians Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., and William G. Shade collaborate to provide a comprehensive, accessible, one-volume history of Virginia, the first of its kind since the 1970s.In seventeen narrative chapters, the authors tackle the four centuries of Virginia's history from Jamestown through the present, emphasizing the major themes that play throughout Virginia history -- change and continuity, a conservative political order, race and slavery, economic development, and social divisions -- and how they relate to national events. Including helpful bibliographical listings at the end of each chapter as well as a general listing of useful sources and Websites, the book is truly a treasure trove for any student, scholar, or general-interest reader looking to find out more about the history of Virginia and our nation. Timed to coincide with the 2007 quadricentennial, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth will stand as a classic for years to come.

Table of Contents

Before Virginia	p. 1
Atlantic outpost : 1607-1650	p. 18
Imperial outpost : 1650-1690	p. 41
A planter's patriarchy : 1690-1775	p. 63
An empire in crisis : 1750-1775	p. 92
From British colony to American state : 1775-1788	p. 116
The Virginia dynasty : 1789-1825	p. 150
Democratizing the Old Dominion : 1825-1851	p. 171
Virginia at midcentury : 1840-1860	p. 193
Slavery, secession, and the Civil War : 1850-1865	p. 211
The Reconstruction era : 1865-1885	p. 240
Progress and preservation : 1885-1915	p. 261
The rise of the Byrd organization : 1915-1930	p. 289
Depression and war : 1930-1945	p. 311
The politics of race : 1945-1960	p. 330
A new commonwealth : 1960-2007	p. 350
Virginia population figures
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.