FCC Research Guides: Campus Book Discussion (2018): Hillbilly Elegy: Introduction

The Scots-Irish in America

In the introduction to Hillbilly Elegy, Vance explains who he is by describing the culture to which he belongs. He describes the town in which he grew up, the grandparents who raised him, his Scots-Irish ancestry, along with their beliefs and values. Pointing to factors such as social isolation, ineffective churches that provide little support for the poor, lack of jobs, and low self-esteem, he gives reasons for the increasing pessimism felt among working-class whites. Ultimately, he argues that despite any of these factors, each individual is responsible for his or her own success or lack thereof. At the heart of his description lies the question about the American Dream and its accessibility to all Americans.

In the intro, he states his theme: “I want people to understand what happens in the lives of the poor and the psychological impact that spiritual and material poverty has on their children. I want people to understand the American Dream as my family encountered it. I want people to understand how upward mobility feels. And I want people to understand something I learned recently: that for those of us lucky enough to live the American Dream, the demons of the life we left behind continue to chase us” (2).

The Scots Irish
An extensive encyclopedia entry about the historical and cultural roots of the Ulster Scotch, or Scotch Irish.

Appalachia in Sound and Image

History of the Appalachian People Part I

During the 1730s, the Scots-Irish migrated to the Appalachian mountains to escape religious oppression and the potato famine. The video talks about the Irish’s hot temper and love of fighting and whiskey. Crafting and music in particular was a part of their heritage maintained through generations. The encroachment of the Scots-Irish on Indian land caused many Native Americans to die of disease and lose their culture. In 1776, when the colonies declared their independence, during the American Revolution, the Scots-Irish fought for independence from England during the American Revolution. Appalachia experienced growth after the war. Soldiers were rewarded with new homes in the mountains. The Scots-Irish learned to use crops to make whiskey, which for a time was profitable, until it was taxed by George Washington. The mountaineers revolted and lost what is known as The Whiskey Rebellion, which lasted for three years. The whiskey they made and sold would be taxed. This would begin a long tradition of Appalachians’ strong reservations about big government and outsiders interfering with their way of life.

History of the Appalachian People Part II

By the 1800s, as the new world expanded, great emphasis was placed on growth and exploration. Part II begins with the discussion of the Civilization policy to rid Native Americans of their culture and persuade them to adopt the American way of life. One of the ways of doing this was to turn Indians into farmers based on European standards of farming. This meant buying and selling African slaves. Some of the Cherokee prospered through assimilation, but this made some whites resentful. Through the leadership of President Andrew Jackson, The Trail of Tears moved the Cherokee off their land further West. Thousands of Native Americans died on their journey. The issue of slavery is discussed along with John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry and the lack of support from the Appalachian people; they resented being caught in the middle of the North and South feud over slavery and viewed Harper’s attack as treason. The differing opinions about the Civil War created tensions within families. The war created an atmosphere of fighting as an answer to resolving issues. The famous feud between the Hatfield and McCoys helped to create the narrative of the Appalachian people being prone to violence.

History of the Appalachian People Part III
Part III focuses on how music and religion shaped Appalachian culture and the people’s continuous struggle to survive hard times. The advent of the radio connected mountain people to the outside world and led to the creation of the Grand Ole Opry. WWII took many young people out of the mountains, sending them to war or work in war industries. This meant work for those who stayed. After the war, trains changed from coal to diesel fuel, which led to a drastic decrease in jobs for coal miners. The result was a mass exodus of people leaving the mountains for work in nearby cities. Many would travel back and forth from their new homes back to the mountains to stay connected to their cultural roots. Some had difficulty assimilating into modern American culture. Lyndon Johnson’s declaration of war on poverty brought attention to the Appalachian region. The media’s depiction of these people as those Americans should pity led to resentment by some of the mountaineers. When the National Core of Engineers saw the potential for tourist attractions in some of the land and streams, some farmers lost generations of land they had worked on. Mountains are now at risk in Appalachia because the tops are being blown off to get at the coal. The destruction of the landscape all in the name of progress is an infringement on the people’s culture, since their very identity is tied to the land. Revitalization of the land has led to tourism, which means more money and jobs. On the other hand, there is a portion of the population that is still suffering.

Food for Thought

If the American Dream is built on luck, to what extent is it available to all?