by Guest Contributor Tami, originally published at What Tami
Said Wikipedia defines the antebellum period thusly: The
antebellum period (from the Latin ante, “before,” and bellum,
“war”) was the time period in America from after the birth of
the United States to the start of the American Civil War. The
Antebellum Age was a time of great transition because of the
industrial revolution in America. It also was a time of growth
in slavery in the American South. It was a phase in American
history when America spread towards the west coast which among
historians is generally referred to as “Westward Expansion”.
Read more… In the public consciousness, part of this story
translates into “Gone with the Wind”-style mythology about big
manor houses sat on sprawling plantations; fair, delicate, pale-
skinned maidens in frilly dresses; brave and handsome men in
gray; and solid, traditional American values. This rosy view of
the antebellum South only holds up if you don’t scratch too
deep. But we’re not likely to do that an