The United States of Appalachia: How Southern Mountaineers Brought Independence, Culture, and Enlightenment to America - Hardcover

Challenges stereotypes to profile Appalachia as a cradle of U.S. independence, artistry, and progressiveness, tracing the region's history to explain how many of the nation's basic freedoms and founding moments found their origins there.

The word Appalachia is seldom uttered in the same sentence with the word enlightenment. More likely, images of the film "Deliverance, corncob chomping grannies, or bonafide gun-toting hillbillies come to mind. However, in truth, Appalachia has been a cradle of US freedom, independence, and enlightenment, as well as a region of progressive social history, literature, and music.
"The United States of Appalachia" reveals to us how so many of our nation's basic freedoms and founding moments grew out of the Appalachias. From the first declaration of independence to the beginnings of folk music, literature, and poetry, Jeff Biggers illuminates with humor, intelligence, and clarity, the many reasons why we all need a lesson in Appalachian history.