Review: The Tar Heel State: A History of North Carolina

The Tar Heel State: A History of North Carolina by Milton Ready
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you have any interest in North Carolina history or in North Carolina in general, this is probably a must-read, mostly because as far as I know it is the only book out there specializing in general North Carolina history. For example, I found it quite interesting to read how Thomas Cary attempted a coup of the colony, since there is a city named after him now, or how William Tryon was generally a devious bad person (and much in the state is named after him). But if you're not in NC these names probably mean nothing to you. 

All in all I'm very happy I read it since it taught me much more of the background and history of the state I live in. 

Some of my notes:

North Carolina's original name was Virginia, and the first English person born in the Colonies was called Virginia Dare, after the state. 

Thomas Cary's attempt at a coup almost spelled the end of the colony (p. 44)

Blackbeard basically strong armed his way into the state, intimidated the governor and was able to get a royal pardon (since the governor was allowed to issue them). (p.45)

Virginia decided to invade North Carolina (p. 46)

NC split from SC in 1712

Raleigh was chosen as a capital despite there not being yet a city of Raleigh. It was a location (Lane's plantation) close to Hunter's Tavern, where many Westerners (who were in control at the time) liked to drink. The Easterners preferred an established city such as Fayetteville. (p. 152)

Thomas Jefferson hired Antonio Canova to create a bust of Washington for the Raleigh statehouse (p. 152)

The Conscription Act (1862) by the confederacy angered many in NC and throughout the south. It went against State rights. (p. 232)

"Reborn as North Carolinians and US citizens after the civil war, ex-slaves sought first not the right to vote, hold office, serve on juries, or own property, but the freedom to bind their families together, both legally and traditionally" (p. 261)

After the 1932 election, Democrats were the liberal party for the entire country except the South (p. 323)

Very interesting how segregation was seen as a progressive move by many. Since the KKK and the red shirts were terrorizing black people, and especially after the Wilmington massacre, it was thought by many that segregation would bring about peace and allow each race to continue with their affairs. 

"events of the 1930s tended to divide southern Democrats from their more liberal party members nationwide and to lay the foundations for the shift to Republicanism two decades later. Indeed, after World War II, some southern Democrats, unhappy with Roosevelt and Truman's liberalism, especially on civil rights, seceded from the Democrats altogether and established their own Dixiecrat Party in 1948" (p. 338)

Barry Goldwater took advantage of this situation. Republicans emerged as the States rights party. Goldwater believed Southern Democrats longed for change. Race was almost never mentioned, but would underlie almost everything (p. 353)

New code words replaced older more blunt vernacular of segregation and white supremacy (p. 355)

Some companies founded in NC: Pepsi, Cheerwine, Krispy Kreme, Food Lion, Ingles, Family Dollar, Belk's (p. 380-1)

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