The Human Tradition in the Old South

Book excerpt: The importance of the South in the development of the United States has always been clear, but in recent decades the rise of the sunbelt-politically, economically, and culturally-has made the significance of the region's history all the more apparent. In The Human Tradition in the Old South, Professor James C. Klotter has gathered twelve insightful essays that explore the region's past and ponder its place in the broader story of the nation. This highly readable volume presents the South's rich and varied history through the lives of a wide range of individuals-men and women, African Americans, whites, and Native Americans from many different Southern states. Written by well-established scholars these mini-biographies collectively range in time from the late colonial/early national period to the present. Filled with lively stories of fascinating Southerners and the times in which they lived, The Human Tradition in the Old South is ideal for courses on Southern history, social history, race relations, and the American history survey course.