Born in the Country: A History of Rural America (Revisiting Rural America)

Updated edition: "A balanced economic, social, political, and technological history of rural America . . . A splendid book, rich with detail." -- Agricultural History Review Through most of its history, America has been a rural nation, largely made up of farmers. David B. Danbom's Born in the Country was the first--and is still the only--general history of rural America. Ranging from pre-Columbian times to the enormous changes of the twentieth century, the book masterfully integrates agricultural, technological, and economic themes with new questions about the American experience. Danbom employs the stories of particular farm families to illustrate the experiences of rural people. This substantially revised and updated third edition: - expands and deepens its coverage of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries - focuses on the changes in agriculture and rural life in the progressive and New Deal eras as well as the massive shifts that have taken place since 1945 - adds new information about African American and Native American agricultural experiences - discusses the decline of agriculture as a productive enterprise and its impact on farm families and communities - explores rural culture, gender issues, agriculture, and the environment - traces the relationship among farmers, agribusiness, and consumers In a new and provocative concluding chapter, Danbom reflects on increasing consumer disenchantment with and resistance to modern agriculture as well as the transformation of rural America into a place where farmers are a shrinking minority. Ultimately, he asks whether a distinctive style of rural life exists any longer in the United States. "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 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 Substantially Revised And Updated Third 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 Final Chapter, 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.--provided By Publisher. Rural Europe And Pre-columbian America -- The Rural Development Of English North America -- Maturity And Its Discontents -- Agriculture And Economic Growth In The Young Republic -- Rural Life In The Young Nation -- The Unmaking And Remaking Of The Rural South -- Rural America In The Age Of Industrialization -- Prosperity And Its Discontents -- From The Best Of Times To The Worst -- The New Deal And Rural America -- The Production Revolution And The New Agriculture -- Agriculture And Rural Life In The Twenty-first Century. David B. Danbom. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Throughout most of its history, America has been a rural nation, largely made up of farmers. David B. Danbom's Born in the Country was the first—and still is the only—general history of rural America. Ranging from pre-Columbian times to the enormous changes of the twentieth century, the book masterfully integrates agricultural, technological, and economic themes with new questions about the American experience.

Danbom employs the stories of particular farm families to illustrate the experiences of rural people. This substantially revised and updated third edition

• expands and deepens its coverage of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries
• focuses on the changes in agriculture and rural life in the progressive and New Deal eras as well as the massive shifts that have taken place since 1945
• adds new information about African American and Native American agricultural experiences
• discusses the decline of agriculture as a productive enterprise and its impact on farm families and communities
• explores rural culture, gender issues, agriculture, and the environment
• traces the relationship among farmers, agribusiness, and consumers

In a new and provocative concluding chapter, Danbom reflects on increasing consumer disenchantment with and resistance to modern agriculture as well as the transformation of rural America into a place where farmers are a shrinking minority. Ultimately, he asks whether a distinctive style of rural life exists any longer.

Preface to the Third Edition ix Preface to the Second Edition xi Preface to the First Edition xv 1 Rural Eu rope and Pre-Columbian Amer i ca 1 2 The Rural Development of En glish North Amer i ca 3 Maturity and Its Discontents 4 Agriculture and Economic Growth in the Young Republic 5 Rural Life in the Young Nation 6 The Unmaking and Remaking of the Rural South 7 Rural Amer i ca 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 Amer i ca 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