albion's seed

[lord of the mark]

by David Hacket Fischer.

Anyone else read it?

[VetLegion]

Write a review for us, why don't you?

[Japher]

read?

[Bill3000]

The thread title is disturbing.

[lord of the mark]

quick summary

Four of Americas early regional cultures were founded by migrations from particular regions of Britain. While much attention has been given to the religious and class nature of these migrations, the regional aspects have been underemphasized.

The four are:
1. New England Puritans - largely from East Anglia/Lincolnshire migration in 1630-140.
2. Virginia - upper class largely gentry from southwest england - indentured servants from South england and London. 1640 to 1670.
3. Quaker Delaware Valley - largely from the north and North Midlands, esp the more isolated mountain communities. migration in 1670 to 1715
4. The "scots irish" backcountry - western Pennsylvania to Shenandoah to NC piedmont and SC upcountry. From Northern English/ southern Scottish Border (often but not alway via Ulster) 1700-1750.

Much of regional folkways, dialect, food, family relations, gender relations, architecture, etc explicable with reference to British regions of origin. Not only that, but attitudes toward freedom and political power heavily influenced by regional origin. 1787 was an (overlooked) compromise among conflicting regional viewpoints, and much of later American history can be explained in terms of these regional differences and conflicts - examples in Jacksonian era, Civil war, depression, even up to 1980s. Book was written in 1989 - Im sure hed have a field day with the 2004 election.

Whats missing: no extensive discussion of 1 . New York Dutch culture and its influence. 2. Emergence of Anglican elite in Massachusetts in 18th century 3. Influences of african americans. etc, etc. He was going to write a follow up series of books, but didnt.

[lord of the mark]

notions


Puritans - tough minded, intense, practical, group oriented - the least individualistic group in America. FDR the ultimate Puritan.


Quakers - individualist, libertarian leaning pacifists. Even more puritanical on sex than the Puritans, even while being the most liberal group on child rearing, education style, religious tolerance, female equality. Derive from Inner light philosophy - but that was to some extent product of poor north midland mountain village hostility to outsider church - and even to old Scandinavian folkways (danelaw).

One can gather how mix of modernized Puritan and Quaker worldviews leaves us with "blue states".

Virginia - low country south - hierarchical, traditional, patriachal conservative. Like quasi-fascist in the pop sense. Not in the proper sense though - still distrusts the state in a whiggish way. Leave me alone to rule over my serfs/black slaves/ employees etc.

Back country - big dumb white guys with guns. anarchic vigilante frontier types. (im still reading this section) Revivalist religion.

[Ramo]

Sounds interesting

[JimmyCracksCorn]

I have the book and have read it. Very interesting.

I've read a few negative reviews of it though (in academic journals that is), many say he glosses over details and doesn't provide enough evidence to back up his (sometimes sweeping) claims.

Although overall its a very good book. I especially enjoyed the linguistic parts.

[Atahualpa]

There's no good coming out of England.... EVER!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
quick summary

Four of Americas early regional cultures were founded by migrations from particular regions of Britain. While much attention has been given to the religious and class nature of these migrations, the regional aspects have been underemphasized.

The four are:
1. New England Puritans - largely from East Anglia/Lincolnshire migration in 1630-140.
2. Virginia - upper class largely gentry from southwest england - indentured servants from South england and London. 1640 to 1670.
3. Quaker Delaware Valley - largely from the north and North Midlands, esp the more isolated mountain communities. migration in 1670 to 1715
4. The "scots irish" backcountry - western Pennsylvania to Shenandoah to NC piedmont and SC upcountry. From Northern English/ southern Scottish Border (often but not alway via Ulster) 1700-1750.

Much of regional folkways, dialect, food, family relations, gender relations, architecture, etc explicable with reference to British regions of origin. Not only that, but attitudes toward freedom and political power heavily influenced by regional origin. 1787 was an (overlooked) compromise among conflicting regional viewpoints, and much of later American history can be explained in terms of these regional differences and conflicts - examples in Jacksonian era, Civil war, depression, even up to 1980s. Book was written in 1989 - Im sure hed have a field day with the 2004 election.

Whats missing: no extensive discussion of 1 . New York Dutch culture and its influence. 2. Emergence of Anglican elite in Massachusetts in 18th century 3. Influences of african americans. etc, etc. He was going to write a follow up series of books, but didnt.

Sounds good.

Might pick it up.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Atahualpa
There's no good coming out of England.... EVER!

You forget the Beatles.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
notions


practical

Have a look at the manifests for the early Puritan ships- these people weren't as practical as you might think.

[Starchild]

Thank you again for taking the Puritans. Makes my life a whole lot easier.

[Bosh]

Amazingly good book. I especially like how he traced so many things back to England and decaricaturized the puritans.

And the bits on naming conventions were great. Goodman Woodman

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

In addition to the Virginian aspects mentioned above, there was a lot of trade movement to America from ports in South-West England. You can hear West Country influences in many American accents- it's the closest match to American accents in Britain.