The Transformation of Virginia, 1740–1790 facts for kids
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| Author | Rhys Isaac |
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| Country | United States |
| Genre | history |
| Publisher | University of North Carolina Press |
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Publication date
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1982 |
| Pages | 462 |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize for History (1983) |
| ISBN | 978-0807848142 |
The Transformation of Virginia, 1740–1790 is a non-fiction book written by Australian historian Rhys Isaac. It was published in 1982 by the University of North Carolina Press. The book explores the big religious and political changes that happened in Virginia over 50 years. It looks at how society moved from an older system, where powerful leaders had a lot of control, to one that focused more on communities and individuals. This book won a Pulitzer Prize and is known for using methods from cultural anthropology to understand history.
Contents
What the Book is About
The Transformation of Virginia describes a time of huge change in Virginia's history. Rhys Isaac shows how society in Virginia developed by telling the story through different events. The book is split into three main parts.
Life Before the Change
In the first part, called "Traditional Ways of Life," Isaac explains what Virginia was like in the 1700s. He describes a society where all white people belonged to one main community. In this time, both government leaders and religious figures were very important. They helped decide a person's place in society.
The Big Changes Begin
The second part, "Movements and Events," shows how new ideas started to grow. This included a rise in evangelical Christianity, which was a different kind of religious belief. These new ideas began to challenge the old, strict social order. They helped break down the way society was organized, where some people were much higher up than others.
Virginia After the Transformation
The final part, "Afterview," describes Virginia's society after all these changes. Rhys Isaac talks about how the role of African Americans in Virginia changed. This led to big shifts in the social structure. Overall, the book traces how Virginia moved from a system focused on community groups to one where individuals became more important.
Awards and Recognition
In 1983, Rhys Isaac won the Pulitzer Prize for History for his book. He is the only Australian historian to have ever won this important award.
