Here we are 150 years after the Civil War era, and still, the “Old South” remains the poorest section of America.
It is astounding to realize that seven of the top ten poorest states are from the “Old South”–in ranked order from poorest forward being Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, and North Carolina, with two Borders states (West Virginia number 4 and Kentucky number 8) also on the list, along with the western state of Montana (number 6 on the list).
The only “Old South” states that are prosperous are Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Texas. Virginia (at least in the Northern part) is part of the Washington DC suburbs; Georgia has Atlanta as its major modernization motivation; Florida has the Northeastern influence in its Southern section; and Texas has major cities in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin, and is, of course, a major oil state. But even all four of these states have major areas of poverty that are unacceptable!
It is a sad state of affairs that the South remains an area way behind the rest of the nation, and that race prejudice and anti-Yankee sentiment remains so strong, major factors in their continued inferiority!
Professor,
With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, it is amazing to see the continued “Myth of the Lost Cause” rantings on some discussion boards.
The hatred for A. Lincoln from some neo-Confederate groups in the South is amazing.From their view, The Civil War was all about tariffs, etc, etc.;
How Radical Republicans punished the South after the War is somehow the reason why it was another 100 years before Jim Crow laws, segregation, lynchings, etc were not out of the ordinary.
Out of context quotes and books by “historians” like Thomas DiLorenzo, whose speciality is economics is the all proof needed that history is all wrong. Slavery would have gone away “naturally” by 1890, which, if true, ignores that another 30 years of slavery, which had been abolished in every other part of the civilized world, was just an inconvenience to the millions
still held against their will.
If you could, can you throw your esteemed background on your views as to why by these beliefs continue to be held.
Paul, I think the power of ignorance is overwhelming. Education is worse in the “Old South” than anywhere else in the nation. The South has never become accustomed to losing the Civil War, explaining the power of neo Confederate groups, and para military organizations such as the KKK and related groups. The race issue still predominates in rural areas, which is still much of the South, but politically, the Republicans have replaced the Democrats in promoting the Confederate viewpoint, due to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Republicans saw an opportunity to exploit the issue and gain control of the South, and it has succeeded. And we have seen that now it is the Republicans who want to take away voting rights originally granted by their party in the 15th Amendment in 1870. And recent racial murders in Mississippi and Florida show that the Old South mentality, which regards black males as not deserving respect and life, still prevails, sadly!
Thanks for your thoughts. Here’s a sample of another posting I saw, on NPR on-line, of all places yesterday> You see no mention of slavery in the post. It’s those damn Progressives! ; ) :
The Whig Party,the northern party of big business pushed northern states to implement it’s ” American Plan” to allow an easier way to pay for “internal improvements”,railroads,canals etc., instead of the subscription method. Several northern states implemented these systems (taxes)to pay for public works. Well,with human nature being what it is most of these monies ended up lining the pockets of crooked contractors.Several northern states were forced into insolvency. These collections were the first income taxes. The Whig Party was dissolved after this debacle,but was reborn as the Republician Party,with its first President,Abe Lincoln who was the darling of big busiess. The southern states were against these taxes because of their support of the Constitution. This was the real reason which directly led to the Civil War. Just follow the money!!
Paul, you and I know that is pure bull, as it was Southerners, including Henry Clay of Kentucky, who promoted the American System of tariffs and internal improvements, needed to develop the American economy beyond just agriculture. The Whig Party had many virtues, and believed in nationalism instead of states rights. To ignore slavery and how it enriched a few thousand families as a major cause of the Civil War, and to blame Abraham Lincoln, is pure propaganda by modern day segregationists and extremist Tea Party radicals who want to go back to the so called “good old days”, which were not that at all!
Professor:
The main reason that the South lags behind in education is because of our huge population of Negroes who are inherently inferior to other races intellecually. If the educational institutions were still allowed to exclude Negroes, as they were in my day, our scores, in white institutions, would actually be superior to the rest of the nation.
Harry, I am dismayed at your racism and bigotry. There is nothing inherent in African Americans that would make them intellectually inferior, except the mistreatment they suffered under slavery and segregation. And to use the outdated term “Negro” says legions about your mindset.
To prevent African Americans from being educated brings us back to the hateful days of Strom Thurmond and George Wallace and other bigots and racists!
And, it is the ignorance of southern whites, who have been held down by their governments’ lack of interest in promoting education, that is the main reason for the South being behind the rest of the nation. Even now, Southern governments have the least emphasis and investment in education and health care, and that cannot be blamed on the African American population!