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Cumberland County, Virginia, In The Late Antebellum Period, 1840-1860, William Maphis Whitworth Jr.

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine and describe the lives of the citizens of a rural, agricultural Virginia County which had a social and economic order based on the institution of slavery. This system was dominated by a wealthy white minority which had the ability to use the existing components of government to perpetuate itself. All aspects of the county were explored, including its origins, geography, population, county court system, representation in state and federal government, economy, transportation, communication, religion, education, and health care.

There was an abundance of available primary sources which gave insights into the county's …