The Birth of a New South: Sherman, Grady, and the Making of Atlanta

William Tecumseh Sherman and Henry W. Grady were key figures in the New South city of Atlanta, Georgia. Grady advocated for a more urban South while also improving farm life. He was known as the great reconciler between North and South and his famous New South speech echoed through the ages. Sherman financially supported Grady's efforts to organize the Piedmont Exposition of 1887, which opened markets for Atlanta and Georgia. Grady's legacy is segregation, and his book is filled with the horrors of that system from the Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 to Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

Format: Hardback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2021
Publisher: Mercer University Press

Atlanta, Georgia, is a city that is often referred to as the "New South." Two names stand out in the history of its emergence: William Tecumseh Sherman and Henry W. Grady. Sherman is known as the destroyer, while Grady is recognized as the principal architect of the "New South." Henry Grady had a vision for a more urban South, but he also cared about improving farm life. He is remembered as the great reconciler between the North and the South, and his famous New South speech continues to resonate throughout history.

William Sherman played a significant role in supporting Grady's efforts to organize the Piedmont Exposition of 1887. This exposition was a step towards opening markets on a wider scale for Atlanta and Georgia. Despite Grady's untimely death at the age of 39 in 1889, his name is still widely recognized in Atlanta today. Grady's legacy extends beyond his advocacy for a more urban South. He energized progressive thought about the future of the region, and many journalists and writers, including Joel Chandler Harris, Ralph McGill, and Lilian Smith, considered themselves part of the Grady tradition.

However, Grady's legacy is also tied to segregation, a system that caused immense harm and suffering to African Americans in the South. This book explores the horrors of segregation, from the Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 to Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which took the South fifty years to implement. The struggle for civil rights and equality continued to be a defining feature of American society for many decades to come.

In conclusion, Atlanta, Georgia, is a city that has been shaped by the remarkable contributions of William Tecumseh Sherman and Henry W. Grady. While Sherman is known for his destructive actions during the Civil War, Grady's vision for a more urban and progressive South left a lasting impact on the region. Grady's legacy is complex, encompassing both his contributions to the "New South" and the horrors of segregation. His name continues to be remembered and honored in Atlanta, and his legacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality in America.

Weight: 542g
ISBN-13: 9780881467888