Book description
Kentucky's first settlers brought with them a dedication to democracy
and a sense of limitless hope about the future. Determined to
participate in world progress in science, education, and
manufacturing, Kentuckians wanted to make the United States a great
nation. They strongly supported the War of 1812, and Kentucky emerged
as a model of patriotism and military spirit.
Kentucky Rising: Democracy, Slavery, and Culture from the Early
Republic to the Civil War offers a new synthesis of the sixty years
before the Civil War. James A. Ramage and Andrea S. Watkins explore
this crucial but often overlooked period, finding that the early years
of statehood were an era of great optimism and progress. Drawing on a
wealth of primary and secondary sources, Ramage and Watkins
demonstrate that the eyes of the nation often focused on Kentucky,
which was perceived as a leader among the states before the Civil War.
Globally oriented Kentuckians were determined to transform the
frontier into a network of communities exporting to the world market
and dedicated to the new republic. Kentucky Rising offers a valuable
new perspective on the eras of slavery and the Civil War.
This book is a copublication with the Kentucky Historical Society.
""An outstanding, beautifully written book that centers
on Kentucky's contributions to the nation during the antebellum
era."--Park City Daily News" --
James A. Ramage, Regents Professor of History at Northern Kentucky
University, is the author of John Wesley Hunt: Pioneer Merchant,
Manufacturer, and Financier and Rebel Raider: The Life of General John
Hunt Morgan. He lives in Cold Spring, Kentucky.
Andrea S. Watkins is assistant professor of history at Northern
Kentucky University. She lives in Independence, Kentucky.
