The South in the Building of the Nation

Book excerpt: In 1900, there was a general agreement among Southerners on the need for a comprehensive history of the Southern states. It had been and was a nation, sharing beliefs, traditions, and culture. This series, originally published in 1909, is a record of the South's part in the making of the American nation. It portrays the character, the genius, the achievements, and the progress in the life of the Southern people. The South, being a predominately Celtic society, excelled in oratory, and the speeches were always able to stir the crowd. This volume opens with a history of oratory, beginning with the colonial period. This volume features examples from the speeches of Patrick Henry, Luther Martin, Henry Clay, William Pinkney, Hugh S. Legarï¿1/2, John C. Calhoun, William Lowndes Yancey, Robert Y. Hayne, and many others. Even the famous evangelist Sam Jones is included. Given the influence of these spellbinders, it is easy to understand the rise of the great Southern writers and storytellers of modern times.