Overview

Through the life of Benjamin Ryan Tillman (1847-1918), South Carolina's self-styled agrarian rebel, this book traces the history of white male supremacy and its discontents from the era of plantation slavery to the age of Jim Crow. As an anti-Reconstruction guerrilla, Democratic activist, South Carolina governor, and U.S. senator, Tillman offered a vision of reform that was proudly white supremacist. In the name of white male militance, productivity, and solidarity, he justified lynching and disfranchised most of his state's black voters. His arguments and accomplishments rested on the premise that only productive and virtuous white men should govern and that federal power could never be trusted. Over the course of his career, Tillman faced down opponents ranging from agrarian radicals to aristocratic conservatives, from woman suffragists to black Republicans. His vision and his voice shaped the understandings of millions and helped create the violent, repressive world of the Jim Crow South. Friend and foe alike--and generations of historians--interpreted Tillman's physical and rhetorical violence in defense of white supremacy as a matter of racial and gender instinct. This book instead reveals that Tillman's white supremacy was a political program and social argument whose legacies continue to shape American life. |Through the life of Benjamin R.Tillman (1847-1918), South Carolina's notorious agrarian rebel, this book traces white male supremacy from plantation slavery to the age of Jim Crow. As an anti-Reconstruction guerrilla, governor, and U.S. senator, he offered a vision of reform that was proudly white supremacist. This book argues that Tillman's white supremacy was a political program and social argument whose legacies continue to shape American life.

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9780807848395

Table of Contents

Reviews

In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times A thoughtful biography of one of the archracists and pillars of Jim Crow in the post-Reconstruction South. New York Times Book Review

In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times A thoughtful biography of one of the archracists and pillars of Jim Crow in the post-Reconstruction South. New York Times Book Review In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times

In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today.<p> Washington Post Book World

In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World

In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times A thoughtful biography of one of the archracists and pillars of Jim Crow in the post-Reconstruction South. New York Times Book Review In describing Tillman's political maneuvers, Kantrowitz thoughtfully deals with many of the issues that concern historians today. Washington Post Book World Based on broad research in primary sources, including an impressive array of manuscript collections, it has immense strengths. Journal of American History A rich and insightful dissection of the rise of American racism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Charles B. Dew, New York Times Book Review Mr. Kantrowitz writes well, argues coherently, and has a strong point of view. Washington Times

Author Information

Stephen Kantrowitz is associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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