THE TAR HEEL STATE: A History of North Carolina, Ready, Milton — $39.95
384 pgs. illus. maps. 2005.
Upper elementary (teacher reference), middle school, high school
In the last three decades North Carolina has witnessed a remarkable growth in population, economic development, and political importance, and it now ranks as the tenth most populous state in the Union. THE TAR HEEL STATE: A History of North Carolina constitutes the most comprehensive and inclusive single-volume chronicle of the state’s storied past to date, culminating with an attentive look at recent events that have transformed North Carolina into a southern megastate.
Ready’s work offers a distinctive view of the state’s history that integrates tales of famous pioneers, statesmen, soldiers, farmers, captains of industry, and community leaders with more marginalized voices, including those of Native American, African Americans, and women. Ready gives readers a view of North Carolina that encompasses perspectives from the coast, “tobacco road,” the Piedmont, and the mountains.
Ready revisits dramatic struggles of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the early history o f Cherokees, the rise of industrial mills, and the changes wrought by modern information-based technologies since 1970. Mixing spirited anecdotes and illustrative statistics, ready describes the rich Native American culture found by John White in 1585, the chartered chaos of North Carolina’s proprietary settlement. He challenges the perception of the “Rip van Winkle” state and the commonly accepted interpretation of Reconstruction. From the civil rights struggle to the building of the research triangles, triads, and parks, he recounts events that have fueled North Carolina’s accelerated development in recent years.
Curriculum Applications: 4th, 8th, 11th Grade Social Studies

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