Born in the Country: A History of Rural America

by David B. Danbom

Overview

Born in the Country was the first—and is still the only—general history of rural America published. Ranging from pre-Columbian times to the enormous changes of the twentieth century, Born in the Country masterfully integrates agricultural, technological, and economic themes with new questions social historians have raised about the American experience—including the different experiences of whites and blacks, men and women, natives and new immigrants.

In this second edition, David B. Danbom expands and deepens his coverage of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, focusing on the changes in agriculture and rural life since 1945. He discusses the alarming decline of agriculture as a productive enterprise and the parallel disintegration of farm families into demographic insignificance. In a new and provocative afterword, Danbom reflects on whether a distinctive style of rural life exists any longer.

Combining mastery of existing scholarship with a fresh approach to new material, Born in the Country continues to define the field of American rural history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421402901
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	12/29/2010
Series:	Revisiting Rural America
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

David B. Danbom is a professor of history at North Dakota State University, Fargo. His books include The Resisted Revolution: Urban America and the Industrialization of Agriculture, 1900–1930.

David B. Danbom is a retired professor of history. His many books include Born in the Country: A History of Rural America, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third Edition ix

Preface to the Second Edition xi

Preface to the First Edition xv

1 Rural Europe and Pre-Columbian America 1

2 The Rural Development of English North America 22

3 Maturity and Its Discontents 37

4 Agriculture and Economic Growth in the Young Republic 59

5 Rural Life in the Young Nation 79

6 The Unmaking and Remaking of the Rural South 99

7 Rural America in the Age of Industrialization 121

8 Prosperity and Its Discontents 151

9 From the Best of Times to the Worst 175

10 The New Deal and Rural America 195

11 The Production Revolution and the New Agriculture 220

12 Agriculture and Rural Life in the Twenty-First Century 240

Notes 253

Suggestions for Further Reading 257

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

A synthetic history of rural America that integrates the new social history with the old and new political and economic history. Focusing on farm people rather than residents of small towns, treats agriculture, rural culture and society, and agrarian policy as an inseparable web. Begins with rural Europe and pre-Columbian America; traces the fortunes of farming through the colonial and early republican periods, the Civil War and industrialization, prosperity and depression, and the New Deal; and describes the current revolution in production and rural life. Paper edition (unseen), $14.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A delightful story tracing the social history of U.S. farmers. The book details the attitudes and social life of farm people—how they looked at themselves and how the rest of society saw them.
—Forum

An extremely well-written narrative that presents its information accurately. Danbom's book can well serve the classroom teacher and general reader.
—Agricultural History Review

A highly readable and useful survey.
—Journal of the West

An accessible text for general scholarship and undergraduate courses.
—Agricultural History

A balanced economic, social, political, and technological history of rural America. [Born in the Country] is a splendid book, rich with detail and complex in argument. A superb introduction to American history.
—Agricultural History Review

From the Publisher

A delightful story tracing the social history of U.S. farmers. The book details the attitudes and social life of farm people—how they looked at themselves and how the rest of society saw them.

Forum

An extremely well-written narrative that presents its information accurately. Danbom's book can well serve the classroom teacher and general reader.

Agricultural History Review

An accessible text for general scholarship and undergraduate courses.

Agricultural History

A highly readable and useful survey.

Journal of the West

"A delightful story tracing the social history of U.S. farmers. The book details the attitudes and social life of farm people—how they looked at themselves and how the rest of society saw them."

Forum

"Like the first edition, Danbom has written an accessible text for general scholarship and undergraduate courses."

Agricultural History - Connie L. Lester

"A highly readable and useful survey."

Journal of the West - Jeff Bremer

"An extremely well-written narrative that presents its information accurately... Danbom's book can well serve the classroom teacher and general reader."

Agricultural History Review - Allan G. Bogue

A delightful story tracing the social history of U.S. farmers. The book details the attitudes and social life of farm people—how they looked at themselves and how the rest of society saw them.

Staff Forum