Wilmington, North Carolina, to 1861

by Watson, Alan D.

• ISBN13: 9780786414277
• ISBN10: 0786414278
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing

Summary

Of Americas thirteen original colonies, North Carolina was the most rural, its urban population miniscule and its maritime commerce severely limited--except in the city of Wilmington. Prior to the Civil War, the coastal town was North Carolinas largest urban area and principal seaport, with shipping as the mainstay of the local economy. Wilmington indeed was a singular place in colonial and antebellum North Carolina. This book presents the history of Wilmington from its founding and development to the eve of the Civil War. Part I traces Wilmingtons history from the incorporation of the town in 1739-40 to 1789, when North Carolina joined the newly formed United States of America. This section focuses on the confused and disputed origins of Wilmington, life in a colonial urban setting, the growing importance of the port, and town governance. Part II expands upon the preceding topics for the years 1789 to 1861. It also examines the economic development of the port, the wide variety of social activities, the growth of the African American population, and Wilmingtons role in state and national politics.

Author Biography

Alan D. Watson is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	v
Preface	1	(4)
I. The Formative Years, to 1789
The Emergence of a Town	5	(23)
Early American Life	28	(23)
A Developing Economy	51	(20)
Colonial Politics	71	(30)
II. The Maturing Years, 1789--1861
The Growth of a Town	101	(24)
The African American Experience	125	(17)
Fellowship, Fraternity, Association	142	(20)
Education, Enlightenment, and Culture	162	(23)
Urban Government	185	(14)
An Expanding Economy	199	(28)
Antebellum Politics	227	(18)
Epilogue	245	(4)
Notes	249	(34)
Bibliography	283	(10)
Index	293