Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2005

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

History

Committee Chair

Mackey, Thomas C., 1956-

Author's Keywords

Kentucky

Subject

Louisville (Ky.)--History; Louisville (Ky.)--Social conditions; Cities and towns--Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--Economic conditions; Cities and towns--Growth--History--19th century

Abstract

This thesis is a historical examination of the perception of Louisville as a southern city. The work begins with a discussion regarding Louisville's historical ties with the North and its acceptance as either a western or northern city. The thesis then shifts into examining the details of the events surrounding the deliberate attempt of city leaders to define Louisville as a southern city in an effort to exploit southern markets following the Civil War. The thesis points to August 3, 1883 as the day of the transition and frames the transition period around the visit of former President and ex-Union General Ulysses S. Grant to Louisville in 1879 and a birthday celebration for Grant in Louisville in 1885. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The Introduction outlines Louisville's history and develops the historiography regarding the topic. Chapter One develops Louisville's historical ties with the North and provides a glimpse into societal, economic and political atmosphere of nineteenth century Louisville. Chapter Two details the 1872 Grand National Industrial Exposition of Louisville, the visit of Ulysses S. Grant to Louisville in 1879 and Louisville's 1883 Southern Exposition. Chapter Three is dedicated to the sixty-third birthday celebration of Ulysses S. Grant in Louisville in 1885. The Conclusion reviews the overall process of the transition of the perception of Louisville as a southern city while reasserting that the transition came about due to a conscious effort on the part of Louisville business and political leaders.

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