In Pursuit of Unity, Michael Perman presents a comprehensive analysis of the South's political history. In the 1800s, the region endured almost continuous political crisis nullification, secession, Reconstruction, the Populist revolt, and disfranchisement. For most of the twentieth century, the region was dominated by a one-party system, the ""Solid South,"" that ensured both political unity internally and political influence in Washington. But in both centuries, the South suffered from the non-competitive, one-party politics that differentiated it from the rest of the country. Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, Perman argues, the South's political distinctiveness has come to an end, as has its pursuit of unity.
About the Author :
Michael Perman is research professor in the humanities at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has written or edited seven books in American history, including Struggle for Mastery: Disfranchisement in the South, 1888-1908 and Emancipation and Reconstruction. He has also held a Guggenheim Fellowship and won three book prizes.
Review :
"A clear, sound synthesis of a crucial subject. . . . Readers at every level should applaud his invaluable contribution." -- Civil War Book Review
"A striking achievement that will be of interest to all students of southern history." -- American Nineteenth Century History
"A welcome addition to the literature. . . .Perman should be applauded for undertaking such an ambitious synthesis. Those looking to refresh their knowledge of the southern political past, or those who lack such knowledge in the first place, will do well to consult this book." -- The Journal of Southern History
"An important new study." -- Journal of American History
"Michael Perman has written a masterful introduction to the complexities of southern political history. Pursuit of Unity identifies and explains the main themes of southern political life over two centuries. This remarkable achievement, a model of clear writing about matters of consequence, should be of great interest to general readers and scholars interested in the impact of the South on American politics." -- Merle Black, coauthor of Divided America: The Ferocious Power Struggle in American Politics
"Perman has filled a pressing need for a modern, comprehensive survey of southern political history. . . . Perman has skillfully and cogently illuminated its past, tying the regional experience together with an effective, coherent theme. Students and fans of southern politics will enjoy this first-rate study." -- North Carolina Historical Review
"Perman's new political history of the South is the first of its kind....No other volume synthesizes the region's political history from the earliest years of the new nation ot the present. With its fine balance of generalization and detail and its clear prose, the book seems certain to attract both scholarly and general readers." -- Georgia Historical Quarterly
"Recommended." -- CHOICE
"Well written and accessible." -- Southwestern Historical Quarterly
