Some Background into Appalachian Americas' Suspicion of Government

[foxfeet]

by Hill Jill
Some Background into Appalachian American's suspicion of Government Sun Sept. 27, 2009 at 10:33:04 AM PDT

After spending some time surfing the Internet Machine, I have not come up with any new, significant details about the Bill Sparkman case. I thought it might be helpful to post a little background history about the area. Ive read a lot of chatter about "Hill-billies hating the government" and I was quite astonished to find out why folks thought that was so. I'd like to clear up some misconceptions. I'll present some history and background that is factual, and why I don't think that has a bearing on this case. The latter is speculation on my part, and I could be wrong.

Scotch-Irish immigrants make up the majority of Appalachian Settlers. The Scotch Irish began as low-land and Borderland Scots who were "persuaded" by the English to colonize Ulster Plantations in the 1600s. The English were trying to dominate both the Scots and the Irish. Somehow they thought if they could remove the lowland/borderland Scots and inflict them on the Irish, it would help solve the problems of subduing these two groups of people. What happened was both the Scots and the Irish, singularly and together, rebelled and England had a big bloody mess on her hands for many years. Immigration to America opened up in the early 1700's. Also, Ireland had a famine around 1740 which drove many people to the New World. The Scots-Irish, now a more or less cohesive group settled in the Colonies, mostly Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina. Land was already becoming scarce. As the Revolutionary War loomed, many Scots-Irish were delighted to take up arms against their old Enemy, the British.

(A side note here: a great deal of Appalachian culture-language, music, manners, customs, are Celtic/Gaelic in origin. There is heavy low country Scots/Ulster Irish influences with some German, particularly in West Virginia/Pennsylvania area. For a long time, the Scots-Irish HATED the English, which is one reason why Appalachian-Americans get ticked off by the "whole Pockets of Pure Elizabethan Culture" Its sort of like saying Israel has pockets of pure Arabic culture.)

more at: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/27/786941/-Some-Background-into-Appalachian-Americans-suspicion-of-Government

[Ian David]

1. They're the only area of the country where McCain did better than Bush.

If it's dangerous to send census-takers in there, then let's stop sending them.

Worst thing that happens is they lose representatives in Congress and federal assistance money from the government they want nothing to do with.

I'm good with that.

[foxfeet]

4. There is also the conflation of religion with patriotism

and the high rate of military enlistment due to the dismal economy. Both are long-standing dynamics of the area.

[panader0]

2. Moonshiners and marijuana growers don't like the law either.

[NightWatcher]

3. my grand dad died calling feds "revenuers" and yes he was a shine runner in Carolina

didnt hate them, but didnt trust nor associate with them.

[foxfeet]

6. He was carrying on an ancient tradition.

[foxfeet]

5. It has long been true there that those who find a particular law to be oppressive

feel free to ignore it.

[mnhtnbb]

7. For some history of revenuers and moonshiners

go here:

http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=51907403

[Thothmes]

8. The folks in these mountains have a long tradition

of opposing both state and federal authority. They use to have no problem attacking Confederate States draft parties and had no problems attacking Federal draft parties during the Civil War.

[-..__...]

9. Best not to git Granny all riled up...

[foxfeet]

10. Well, THAT'LL give them a reason to vote Democratic next time.

:sarcasm: