home     special collections    p 2     3      4     5     6     7     8     9  
   10     11     12    13     14     15     16     17     18    19     20     21     22     23      24

 

                The Case For Appalachian Studies

                                    by  Appalachian Author

                                                                    James G. Branscome



The Case for Appalachian Studies was written by Branscome in the '70s
www.AppalachiaCoal.com  B. L. Dotson-Lewis webmaster

                            The Case For Appalachian Studies       
page 1
The development of Appalachia has varied tremendously from one part of the mountains to the next, depending upon geography, availability of natural resources such as coal, timber and water, and historical circumstances such as early settlement patterns of the choosing of sides in the Civil War.  But the major factor in creating the complex social, economic and political problems of today came with the gradual industrialization of the area over the past 70 to 80 years.

       The reaction of mountaineers to industrialization is one of the most misunderstood and untold stories of American ethnic history.  Usually, the more industrialized a particular area has become, the more the people seem to be like most Americans; but in Appalachia, these are only surface appearances.  Appalachia today is still primarily an agrarian region where the way of  life developed over 200 years of pioneer settlement retains a strong and lasting hold upon the people.

     If these elements of a pioneer culture are unique in comparison to the rest of America, it is because geography and historical circumstances have combined to lessen the impact of industrialization upon the people.  For example, there are still people today who live entirely off the land, needing only salt, guns and steel tools and some cloth from local stores for outside necessities.

     However, most mountain people have had contact with some forms of industry.  Despite this, the practical outlook of the pioneer life and the tough individualism which made it possible still form the basis for many social attitudes and values practiced today.                  

   next to page 2