“Shows how colonialism and slavery created sustained critiques of American capitalism and created the conditions for chronic resistance. These communities represent a largely unrecognized; alternative declaration of independence. They are a part of world history that is truly revolutionary.â€â€”Mark P. Leone; author of The Archaeology of Liberty in an American Capital “Addresses key historical and theoretical debates of the archaeology of the African diaspora. Theoretically complex and methodologically rigorous; it is the first serious study to locate maroon groups in the Chesapeake.â€â€”Frederick H. Smith; author of The Archaeology of Alcohol and Drinking “Sayers uses archaeology to tell a compelling story of how alienated people found refuge in the alien landscape of the Great Dismal Swamp. Here they created their own way of life; free of the exploitation and alienation that they escaped. His work helps us to better understand the history of defiance in the Antebellum South and raises important theoretical issues for all archaeologists studying diasporic communities.â€â€”Randall H. McGuire; author of Archaeology as Political Action In the 250 years before the Civil War; the Great Dismal Swamp of Virginia and North Carolina was a brutal landscape—2;000 square miles of undeveloped and unforgiving wetlands; peat bogs; impenetrable foliage; and dangerous creatures. It was also a protective refuge for marginalized individuals; including Native Americans; African-American maroons; free African Americans; and outcast Europeans. In the first thorough archaeological examination of this unique region; Daniel Sayers exposes and unravels the complex social and economic systems developed by these defiant communities that thrived on the periphery. He develops an analytical framework based on the complex interplay between alienation; diasporic exile; uneven geographical development; and modes of production to argue that colonialism and slavery inevitably created sustained critiques of American capitalism.
#1442628 in Books Wayne E Lee 2001-08-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .89 x 5.98l; 1.35 #File Name: 0813027020400 pagesCrowds and Soldiers in Revolutionary North Carolina The Culture of Violence in Riot and War
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A little bit too thesis-driven; but worth the readBy A CustomerWayne Lee has written on the militia and crowds in his innovative work Crowds and Soldiers in Revolutionary North Carolina: The Culture of Violence in Riot and War (2001). This study considers militia issues beyond fighting battles; including the necessity Continental officers faced using militia regiments; and the drawbacks from doing so as well. One of the subjects in Lee�s study of the legitimacy of violence during the war is that of the bitter; bloody feuds between Whigs and Tories; a conflict that caused the Patriot militia to become mired in a struggle of �retaliatory escalation;� vendettas; plundering; murder and other crimes; all of which served to weaken the authority of the newly-created state. For example; Lee describes the fine line between the impressment and stealing of much-needed supplies from the civilian population. �In accordance with military tradition;� Lee notes; �it was acceptable to impress from one�s enemies without payment;� an assumption which too often led to random theft. This and other problems were a constant burden for Greene and other commanders in the south; just part of the many challenges arising from the reliance on militia troops.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. fascinating history; clear analysis; elegant proseBy A CustomerI do not usually read a lot of military history; but I picked this book up almost by accident and ended up teaching it in my colonial history seminar. Lee uses revolutionary North Carolina to examine the meaning; purposes and imperatives of violence and the ways citizens and societies rationalize and sometimes challenge the use of violence. This is as much social history as military history; and the literary quality of CROWDS AND SOLDIERS makes it an excellent teaching book. I hope to assign it in my survey class next year; or as soon as it comes out in paper. It passed the "father test" with flying colors--I left my copy where my father would be sure to see it; he picked it up; and read it almost without stopping. This is a fine and important work of history that could hardly be more timely in its implications.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An outstanding book!By A CustomerThis book was purchased from .com as a gift for my Mother. She is a historian; genealogist and life long resident of North Carolina. Her main field of expertise is the historical Colonial Period in North Carolina and especially the Regulator Movement. Having taught a college course in early North Carolina history she is well versed on the events and ideologies of the period. She was fascinated with the extensive research done for this publication and how very well the book was written. In her opinion; an excellent book which rates five stars *****.
