¶ … Old South: Middle Florida's Plantation Frontier before the Civil War" by Edward E. Baptist. 1. What is the big historical question; Summarize the main points of the questions or theories the author is trying to address in his/her work. 2. Where does the work fit in the existing historiography. 3. What evidence does the author use to make the case? 4. Briefly summarize the author's findings. 5. How well does he/she make the case? Is the result believable? Why or why not? 6. What (if anything) is wrong with the work? Are there major gaps or inconsistencies? Creating an Old South: Middle Florida's Plantation

Frontier before the Civil War"

In "Creating an Old South: Middle Florida's Plantation Frontier before the Civil War," Edward E. Baptist presents a historical account of the era of migration to Middle Florida during the early 1800's and its creation of the plantation boom. Baptist attempts this presentation by discussing the views and legalities of slavery, as well as, the white elite slave-owner's role of power verses the poorer non-slave-owning white population.

Baptist weaves a work of historical facts and accounts with entries from journals and diaries of some of the key regional figures of that era. By this,...

Baptist is careful to detail the findings of other authors, either singularly or as group or whole to illustrate the climate of the times, whether politically or culturally. He also cites or refers to other works to demonstrate the power of the word to incite, such as authors who wrote about Florida, describing it as a paradise of comfort and profit with endless possibilities, thus, creating a migration boom south. Although, some had pioneered south based on oral accounts, it was the written word that began the flood of plantation owners. Baptist uses such accounts thoughtfully throughout his book, often referring often to newspaper accounts and political speeches.
Baptist's research revealed a view of the Old South that few had until now seen. Baptist showed one of greed and self-interest, filled with conflict between white plantation owners and the common white farmers, the haves and the haves not. Florida at that time had a whole different set of rules, or rather no laws. Unlike states such as Missouri, Florida…