Research Paper on Kentucky in the National Imagination: Hillbilly Stereotypes and White Residents

In Colonels, Hillbillies, and Fightin': Twentieth-Century Kentucky in the National Imagination (2015), Harkins argues that the white residents of Kentucky have been described in popular American culture as a "Hill Billy." Nothing but bad connotations have been ascribed to this description. Hence the white residents of Kentucky are assumed to be violent degenerates who dislike modern ideas while placing a high value in traditional Christian values. Harkins (2015) concludes that from the cultural history perspective, the term Hillbilly is symbolic of stubborn individualism and backwardness. He points to the constant portrayal of the people from Kentucky in this manner in American film and literature. Harkins (2015) also observes that for the residents of the State of Kentucky, their identity as hillbillies has become a source of social derision and regional pride. Hence the American conception of who a hillbilly is has played an important role in the social understanding of whiteness and the status of modernity in contemporary America.

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Introduction

Hegel proposed an abstract theory on how to conduct an historical inquiry that became influential from the nineteenth century onwards. While defining his theory of world history, Hegel stated that:

".......[T]he development of the spirit's consciousness of its own freedom and of the consequent realization of the freedom. This development is by nature a gradual progression. . . . The logical--and even more so the dialectical--nature of the concept in general, i.e. the fact that it determines itself, assumes successive determination which it progressively overcomes, thereby attaining a positive, richer, and more concrete determination--this necessity, and the necessary series of pure abstract determinations of the concept are comprehended by means of philosophy."

The import from this quotation is that Hegel advocates for a dialectical scheme that emphasized the steady progress of history.

In The Greeks and Greek Civilization (1999) the historian Burckhardt fused history with anthropology to create a historiographic method that turned away from the Hegelian conception of historical inquiry. Burckhardt's rationale was that by comparing contemporary cultures to the past ones, a productive view of history can emerge for the benefit of modern society. His departure from the Hegelian consensus nay have been precipitated by the fact that he was witnessing the rapid industrialization of European states towards the end of the 19th century that were accompanied by big political and social changes. For instance, as a new class emerged of employed workers, so did the revolutionary ideology of Marxism. The increased urbanization of people also had significant impact on traditional social norms on gender, sexuality, and the family.

It seems that Burckhardt wanted to develop a method for using history as a tool to educate the public on how the traditions of European culture stood as some of the highest examples of achievements by mankind. He hoped that by educating a wide segment of the public on cultural connections between the Europe of his day with ancient Greece and Rome, he hoped he could dissuade them from becoming Marxists. Thus in The Greeks and Greek Civilization (1999) he presented a cultural history of European civilization by focusing on social activities as well as the thoughts of ordinary citizens. It also included a lengthy exposition on how to conduct an inquiry into cultural history.

Colonels, Hillbillies, and Fightin': Twentieth-Century Kentucky in the National Imagination

Harkin (2015) starts his essay by reporting that when in 2003, he gave his family notice that he was relocating to Kentucky for work, they offered their opinions about social life in the State by stating:

".....[g]uess you'll be sitting on the porch drinking mint juleps....... Oh no.......it'll be fruit jars of moonshine!"

Harkin reports that although they were joking, their humor revealed deep seated stereotypical views about Kentucky's society as backward. Harkin says:

"....[t]hese conceptions are united in that each encourages outsiders and, to some degree, Kentuckians themselves to envision the state and its people as existing in a persistent antebellum and pre-industrial past and sharing a culture defined by alcohol and the potential for gun violence."

Harkin (2015) believes that these stereotypes about the Bluegrass State were cultivated in popular American culture, through literature, movies, television, and music.

Slavery was one of the major issues that contributed to the great civil war and political rifts in the USA during its early years. Kentucky found itself in a tight spot during the slavery and civil war in America during the period 1790 1ll through the 1800s. Kentucky was also the main slavery hold zone, with almost most slaves being held for both subsistence and other labor-intensive activities. Most freed slaves traded their children as well as their families with the native rich mine owner until a revolution movement was formed. This paper tries to analyze various contributing factors to Kentucky as a border state.

History and Trends of Slavery in Kentucky

Being a state on the border between the north and the south side was both an advantage and disadvantage for Kentucky during the slavery era. It was a small state with low needs for slave labor. The population of slaves was kept low as there was a great decline in the production levels of tobacco. Another interesting aspect is that there were free slaves who helped greatly when the need to stop slavery rose. Twenty-nine counties had free blacks who contributed to the fighting of slavery in this region. It is also worth noting that it contributed to the spread of slaves to the south as the white settlers moved to find better farming opportunities. Kentucky also happened to be a leading hand in abolitionism, seeing figures like David rice, David barrow among others pushing for its end. As a border country, it was a crucial figure in the exchange of slaves between the north and the south. However, it also acted as a central figure in the rise of revolutions to cub slavery.

Politics and Their Shaping of Kentucky

Kentucky saw a fierce battle between pro-slavery advocates and anti-slavery ones. Some are notably seen in their efforts to cut this trade, such as John Gregg Fee. However, even in this war, it is notable that there was the growth of the slave trade business favored by most political figures at the time.

Kentucky never fully stopped the slave trade business like most of her neighbors, such as Maryland and Missouri. The civil war fueled by the difference in the republicans and democrats over the idealism of slavery and other minor elements hit Kentucky and the rest of America hard. It is reported that close to 75 % of slaves escaped to the areas they were safe from this region during the war. Fierce battles ensued as there were different constitutional changes, all trying to control the rights of freed black slaves. Kentucky denied a number of these amendments, including the thirteenth amendment, as it held firmly to denying the blacks freedom. Despite the end of the confederacy, the state is reported to contain slavery continually until the thirteenth amendment was enacted into the American constitution.

On the eighteenth of December 1865, slavery was legally put to an end in the USA, forcing Kentucky to implement the same. The aftermath of the 1860 election is one that can undoubtedly be seen as fatal finding Kentucky in the middle between the northern and the southern states. Apart from the political effects caused by the war, economic problems ensued during and after the civil war affecting this state. Its acceptance of the amendment to end slavery was a more significant contributor to its reconstruction and growth.

At first, Kentucky was neutral but soon it turned out to be a fierce battle field which had a huge imbalance on the civil war. It was the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln which would have meant a strong oppose of slave trade. Abraham thought Kentucky would be behind him but it turned the opposite with the majority shifting to opposition. The rift and start of war was created by the 1861 election where the unionists won majority of the seats in congress. However, this never happened as it turned out to have more union soldiers than the confederates. The scores of this war were overly high, bearing in mind that it was a border state. Kentucky acted as a battlefield for many battles during this period implying high fatalities and destruction of property.

America's civil war was a great relieve for the blacks as they were set free in the long run. Kentucky was however reluctant to abolish slavery as the majority were against its end. Eventually, relieve came for the blacks as those in its favor were defeated. Gradually, slavery was abolished leading to freedom for the blacks.

Recreating Kentucky was not an easy job. Towards the end of the war, the extent of damage was extreme calling for reconstruction of a state that was once thriving economically. A major element noted during the reconstruction process was the rise of other institutions of higher education such as Georgetown college and Centre college. Politically there was a huge gap left causing confusion among many as they had been greatly confused by the war. A considerable number joined the Democratic Party while a minority sidelined with the Republican Party. Kentucky embarked on a serious road to reconstruction making radical changes in their political and economic systems5. Having been hit severally by the war meant huge measures to rebuild a once thriving state. End of the war implied that it had to embark on reviving of industries with the absence of free slave labor. Bringing back law and order implied the removal of military rule which took time bringing peace in the region.

Another thing that noticeably took place during this phase is the according of citizenship to slaves. Although Kentucky was reluctant to accord the blacks citizenship as they got into paid labor in industries and agriculture. War and slave trade are dominant factors that assisted greatly in the making of this state both politically and economically. While there are adverse effects experienced, there were dramatic positive changes in this region. Improvements in education quality rise of industries and better political unity can massively be attributed to this trying period.

Bibliography

Hoskins, Patricia. "" The Old First is With the South:" The Civil War, Reconstruction, and Memory in the Jackson Purchase Region of Kentucky." PhD diss., 2009.

Marshall, A. E. "Creating a Confederate Kentucky." 2010. doi:10.5149/9780807899366_marshall.

Marshall, A. E. "Two Kentucky: Civil War Identity in Appalachian, Kentucky, 1865-1915." Creating a Confederate Kentucky, 2010, 111-132. doi:10.5149/9780807899366_marshall.9.

Sterling, R. E. "Civil War Iowa and the Copperhead Movement (review)." Civil War History 27, no. 2 (1981), 185-186. doi:10.1353/cwh.1981.0035.

Webb, Ross A. Kentucky in the Reconstruction Era. University Press of Kentucky, 2015. Retrieed from https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Kentucky_in_the_Reconstruction_Era.html?id=i7QeBgAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y