Talk:History of Kentucky

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To-do list for History of Kentucky:

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Pre-history Inclusion of Native Americans in the United States (Kentucky before the Europeans arrived) 18th century Inclusion of interesting details about early settlement other than the Daniel Boonie stuff 19th century Kentucky was a notable and complex part of the Western Theater of the American Civil War and a Border state. This article will feature some highlights: (NOTE: Comprehensive coverage of Kentucky in the Civil War will be in a separate article.) Russellville Convention The Great Hog Swindle Men who claimed to be the Confederate Governor of Kentucky Synoptic coverage of key battles, esp. Battle of Belmont (across from Columbus, Kentucky), the Battle of Perryville, Forts Henry and Donelson (just south of Kentucky line) Governor and legislature conducting business in Louisville for about a month in 1862 while Confederates held Frankfort Military siege and martial law from 1864-1865 (Stephen G. Burbridge's reign of terror) Post-war sympathy with the Confederates More fully cover the Reconstruction period 20th century More fully cover the 20th century General Cover discovery and exploition of coal deposits in Eastern and Western Kentucky. Cover history of bourbon whiskey Cover agricultural history Tobacco farming and the "Tobacco wars" (Nightriders) Hemp used to be a major crop in Kentucky Marijuana is its largest cash crop (an extension of bootlegging culture) Political, economic and social development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (Development of railroads, highways, communications etc.) Natural disasters such as the effects of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (1811 and 1812) and the Floods of 1913 and 1937 and others (what Kentucky cities were effected?). (New article — Ohio River flood of 1937 — mostly a Kentucky article but the other side of the river (Ohio, Indiana and Illinois should be covered, along with Upper Ohio and Lower Mississippi river regions also effected by this notable flood.) Education: Moonlight schools. Berea College (first integrated college if I'm not mistaken). Kentucky Education Reform Act.

[edit] Why this article was started

I started this article because it appeared to be inevitable, and I thought that the Goebel assassination coverage was too extensive in the main Kentucky article. Other discussion of history in the main article could be better summarized (read: reduced) as well. Perhaps now Wikipedians will feel freer to discuss Kentucky's history more extensively, and hopefully, will fill in the wide gaps... especially history from the Reconstruction period and all of the 20th century and beyond. Stevie is the man! ^{Talk • Work} 01:29, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

I agree with the need for this article and that there are wide gaps. Kentucky was very significant to Native Americans in the United States, American History and in the Westward Expansion of the United States. It also played a very complex role in the American Civil War. Other notable events such as the Flood of 1937 need to be covered. Lot's of work to do here! CQ 17:10, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

Totally agreed. Also, feel free to add todo's to the above todo list. Stevie is the man! ^{Talk • Work} 17:43, 20 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Formatting question

I am thinking of adding discussion of the history of agriculture in Kentucky. Do y'all think that it should be a separate section at the bottom of this article, spread throughout this article, or in a separate article? I don't want to mess up the chronological order of this article, but I am concerned that brief statements about the development of agriculture in each section won't do justice to the subject. Lamont A Cranston 14:59, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

I honestly don't know of a good way to handle this. I think we're going to have a similar situation when covering the history of transportation in Louisville. Alas, Rome wasn't built in a day--I'm sure we'll come up with a good approach before long. Stevie is the man! ^{Talk • Work} 16:37, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

After thinking about this a bit, how about writing an Agriculture in Kentucky article with its own history section. This would be a way of tying all that history together. And thus, spreading out that history in this article won't be as much of an issue. Stevie is the man! ^{Talk • Work} 17:15, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

That may be the best solution. I've added some small notes about agriculture to the history of Kentucky article. I'll try and put together an Agriculture in Kentucky article sometime soon. Lamont A Cranston 17:23, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] POV

The first paragraph seems to have a slanted POV in favor of the Anglo settlers. As it is written, it would appear that the treaties securing Kentucky from the Amerindian nations of the area were perfectly legitamate, when in reality all of the treaties were negotiated between the United States or the United Kingdom and the Iroquois Confederation, the latter claiming sovereignty over Kentucky but in reality having no political control nor any historical claims nor any claims by actual settlement in the region. In reality the treaties horribly disenfranchised the Cherokee and Shawnee (see the articles on said treaty for some more information). Elsewhere there are implications given that Kentucky fit the grand myth of a pristine and virgin pre-European arrival North America, which is very dangerous. I have very limited information on Kentucky history, so I would feel rather uncomfortable making major changes to the article, but the changes are necessary and someone with more information really should attempt to eliminate the POV. Israelite9191 21:23, 23 February 2007 (UTC)