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Power, Prestige, and Influence of the Nineteenth Century Upcountry Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Cotton Planters and Their Appropriation of the Greek Revival House

Weber, Heidi Amelia-Anne
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8705-0566
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1447787950

Abstract Details

2015, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of History.
The purpose of this study is to examine how the Greek Revival plantation home represented the upcountry Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina cotton planters. The house was emblematic of the man. As a result, this dissertation focuses on the house and its architectural styling, Greek Revival, and how those plantation homes represented the men who built and owned them. The upcountry planters who prospered from the cultivation of cotton by slave generated labor wanted to display their affluence. In an attempt to differentiate themselves from the previous generation, while trying to gain their own independence and identity, these men embraced the Greek Revival architectural style. Their success was built on the backs of slaves. Methodologically, the personal letters, journals and records of these planters were used to ascertain the significance of the house and how it was used to symbolize these men. Planters who were selected for this study fit three specific criteria: (1) their chief residence was in the upcountry, (2) they grew cotton, and (3) they built their homes in the Greek Revival architectural style. The initial chapters discuss the historiography of the scholarship in related fields as well as provide an introduction to the planters and their plantation homes. Subsequent chapters delve into the other homes, possessions, slaves, horses and art that were also used to define these men. Ultimately, it was the slaves who provided them with these luxuries. Their cultivation of cotton granted these planters the financial resources that enabled them to build and maintain these homes, through which they displayed their wealth and prestige. The final chapters explore how the upcountry planters lost their status as masters of slave run cotton land as a result of the Civil War. Some of these men experienced the complete destruction of their treasured homes. But even if no longer standing, these Greek Revival plantation homes served as a testament to the legacy of their owners. As such, these upcountry Greek Revival mansions were truly emblematic of the men who built and owned them.
Leonne Hudson (Advisor)
Kenneth Bindas (Advisor)
Bradley Keefer (Committee Member)
Babacar M'Baye (Committee Member)
Patrick Coy (Committee Member)
338 p.
History

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Weber, H. A.-A. (2015). Power, Prestige, and Influence of the Nineteenth Century Upcountry Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Cotton Planters and Their Appropriation of the Greek Revival House [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1447787950

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Weber, Heidi. Power, Prestige, and Influence of the Nineteenth Century Upcountry Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Cotton Planters and Their Appropriation of the Greek Revival House . 2015. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1447787950.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Weber, Heidi. "Power, Prestige, and Influence of the Nineteenth Century Upcountry Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Cotton Planters and Their Appropriation of the Greek Revival House ." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1447787950

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.