Appalachian Trail

In the video, “A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains”, news correspondent Diane Sawyer introduces the viewers to various families and individuals living in poverty stricken communities in the Central Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. According to the program, the people living there are descendants of pioneers and legendary fighters in the American military. “They are brave, tough, wary of outsiders, steeped in family and faith” (20/20). This is an area of the country that is experiencing…

One of the themes, and the most prominent one, seems to be Vance’s explain of what it means to be a “hillbilly” and what the title entails. Having grown up in towns such as Jackson and Middletown, towns largely populated by emigrants from Eastern Kentucky, JD frequently makes a point to describe what it means to be a hillbilly. He says that hillbillies are white Americans of Scottish-Irish decent. He explains that “poverty is a family tradition” because for quite some time they have been people…

Appalachia is a ticking time bomb! This is because the coal mining industry is on a constant downfall. The failing coal mine industry has brought about many new ideas to try and improve the economy. In the past the Appalachia was a very thriving economy it is like our modern-day Atlanta. Every and anyone need or used coal in some way shape or form. This kept all of the people in Appalachia having a job. But as the time went on the use for coal has dropped. People are reverting to alternate…

The expansion to America across the Atlantic Ocean was a significant historical breakthrough at the time. Even though, half millennium before Christopher Columbus accidentally discovered America in 1492, Vikings where the first to set foot on the North American loam by their leader Leif Eriksson. The discovery of the new world was viewed by many world power country leaders as not only a financial opportunity but also control the flow of precious materials and trade goods coming out of the…

Ruettiger explains how you should never give up on your dream. Shawn Grim and Rudy Ruettiger both know this too well. Rudy Ruettiger was a kid who had a dream to play football for Notre Dame, At the same time. Grim lives in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains and his dream was to go to college and graduate. Struggling with money was a big deal for Ruettiger and Grim. Rudy worked for a minimum wage job, helping clean up and stuff around the football field so he was a janitor. He was very…

people to apply for statehood! The idea of “the West” constantly changed as Americans pushed the farther and farther away from what had been the original 13 colonies. In the early 1800’s the "West" was generally considered to be the area west of the Appalachian Mountains to the territories and states in the Mississippi River Valley. Some people moved west because the eastern states were getting too crowded. Most people who lived in the west lived on small farms or had farm-related occupations.…

I really enjoyed the interview of Adaline Bloom. Her father came to the United States in order to escape the Russian army draft. Adaline talks about the effects of the Great Depression and World War II on her family. For example, she speaks about gas rationing for her family’s car. In an attempt to save gas for the United States military, limited supplies of gas were sold to the public. Therefore, Adaline’s family did not use the car for almost two years. It was difficult to find steady work…

The Great Smoky Mountains is where Thomas Wolfe’s play The Mountains takes place. Although Wolfe doesn’t delve deep into the environment of the mountains themselves one can feel the mountains surrounding the play itself. The Great Smoky Mountains is a place full of plant life and animals. Surrounding all this plant life and animals are the mountains themselves and the history they tell. The Great Smoky Mountains at its highest areas is roughly about 6000 feet above sea level (Hadley 1). These…

Sturnus Vulgaris (Common Starling) or (European Starling) The European Starling was introduced to North America in the 19th century. They were imported at great expense from Europe by Eugene Schieffelin around the 1890s to U.S and labeled as an invasive species. But unlike many other invasive birds, it was not protected under U.S law. Meaning no harm, Schieffelin goal was to just introduce all the birds mentioned by William Shakespeare in North America. Schieffelin released about 100 European…

The mountain community is very traditional when it comes to elders in the community. This is seen through Mrs. Taylor, Lace’s parents, Uncleome though. He also has a connection growing up in the mountains but feels work would come easier somewhere else. He likely resents the land for allowing itself to fall and become destructed because it is forcing him to have to leave. The younger boys seem to like the land. Tommy and Corey like being able to play and run around in the creek, Corey sees the…