Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007 / Edition 1

by Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., William G. Shade

Overview

"On the morning of 26 April 1607, three small ships carrying 143 Englishmen arrived off the Virginia coast of North America, having spent four months at sea.... All hoped for financial success and perhaps a little adventure; as it turned out, their tiny settlement eventually would evolve from colony into a prominent state in an entirely new nation." So begins Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007 and the remarkable story behind the founding not only of the state of Virginia but of our nation. With this book, the historians Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., and William G. Shade collaborate to provide a comprehensive, accessible, one-volume history of Virginia, the first of its kind since the 1970s.

In seventeen narrative chapters, the authors tackle the four centuries of Virginia’s history from Jamestown through the present, emphasizing the major themes that play throughout Virginia history—change and continuity, a conservative political order, race and slavery, economic development, and social divisions—and how they relate to national events. Including helpful bibliographical listings at the end of each chapter as well as a general listing of useful sources and Websites, the book is truly a treasure trove for any student, scholar, or general-interest reader looking to find out more about the history of Virginia and our nation. Timed to coincide with the 2007 quadricentennial, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth will stand as a classic for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813927695
Publisher:	University of Virginia Press
Publication date:	05/02/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	412
Sales rank:	1,079,055
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.98(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ronald L. Heinemann is Professor Emeritus of History at Hampden-Sydney College. John G. Kolp, now retired, was Professor of History at the United States Naval Academy. Anthony S. Parent Jr. is Associate Professor of History at Wake Forest University. William G. Shade is Professor Emeritus of History at Lehigh University.

Table of Contents

List of Maps     viii
Preface     ix
Before Virginia     1
Atlantic Outpost: 1607-1650     18
Imperial Outpost: 1650-1690     41
A Planter's Patriarchy: 1690-1775     63
An Empire in Crisis: 1750-1775     92
From British Colony to American State: 1775-1788     116
The Virginia Dynasty: 1789-1825     150
Democratizing the Old Dominion: 1825-1851     171
Virginia at Midcentury: 1840-1860     193
Slavery, Secession, and the Civil War: 1850-1865     211
The Reconstruction Era: 1865-1885     240
Progress and Preservation: 1885-1915     261
The Rise of the Byrd Organization: 1915-1930     289
Depression and War: 1930-1945     311
The Politics of Race: 1945-1960     330
A New Commonwealth: 1960-2007     350
Epilogue     371
Virginia Population Figures     379
General Bibliography     381
Index     383

What People are Saying About This

""Passing the narrative baton as gracefully as an Olympic relay team, Heinemann, Kolp, Parent, and Shade carry students and general readers on a brisk run through four eventful centuries of Virginia history. From Captain John Smith to Governor Tim Kaine, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth presents the political history of Virginia in the context of economic and social change from colonization to globalization." -- Jon Kukla, author of Mr. Jefferson's Women and A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America

Jon Kukla

"Passing the narrative baton as gracefully as an Olympic relay team, Heinemann, Kolp, Parent, and Shade carry students and general readers on a brisk run through four eventful centuries of Virginia history. From Captain John Smith to Governor Tim Kaine, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth presents the political history of Virginia in the context of economic and social change from colonization to globalization.

Editorial Reviews

"Passing the narrative baton as gracefully as an Olympic relay team, Heinemann, Kolp, Parent, and Shade carry students and general readers on a brisk run through four eventful centuries of Virginia history. From Captain John Smith to Governor Tim Kaine, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth presents the political history of Virginia in the context of economic and social change from colonization to globalization.

Jon Kukla

"For decades, we have lacked a modern account of Virginia’s rich, tumultuous, and consequential history, which has shaped so much of our nation’s past. Now we have it. In the hands of these four authors, the Old Dominion’s story unfolds with compelling force.

Nelson D. Lankford

A splendid narrative.

Weekly Standard

"For decades, we have lacked a modern account of Virginia’s rich, tumultuous, and consequential history, which has shaped so much of our nation’s past. Now we have it. In the hands of these four authors, the Old Dominion’s story unfolds with compelling force.

editor of the Virginia Magazine of History and Bio Nelson D. Lankford

On a cold April day in 1607, 143 Englishmen left their three small ships and stepped onto dry land for the first time in four months. There, in Jamestown Settlement, they established the first permanent English settlement in North America. This authoritative one-volume narrative lays out the following 400 years of Virginia history in 17 comprehensive yet accessible chapters.

"A splendid narrative. "—author of Weekly Standard

"For decades, we have lacked a modern account of Virginia’s rich, tumultuous, and consequential history, which has shaped so much of our nation’s past. Now we have it. In the hands of these four authors, the Old Dominion’s story unfolds with compelling force. "—author of Nelson D. Lankford, editor of the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography

"Passing the narrative baton as gracefully as an Olympic relay team, Heinemann, Kolp, Parent, and Shade carry students and general readers on a brisk run through four eventful centuries of Virginia history. From Captain John Smith to Governor Tim Kaine, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth presents the political history of Virginia in the context of economic and social change from colonization to globalization. "—Jon Kukla, author of Mr. Jefferson’s Women and A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America

From the Publisher