Analysis of The Book "James Henry Hammond and The Old South: a Design for Mastery"

Drew Gilpin Faust provided the final interpretation of the life of James Henry Hammond. As a little boy, Hammond's father is very optimistic about him, Hammond is very optimistic about himself. Hammond is one of the richest growers in southern South Carolina. Hammond had great expectation of himself and his surroundings based on his ability. To achieve these huge expectations, Hammond became the US senator and main political leader of the governor of South Carolina. Hammond’s father teaches him when he was very young and want him to become ambitious and successful. To do this, Hammond needs to master all aspects. However, Hammond could not fully grasp himself and achieve his ambitions, which happened to led to his death. As Hammond died, the old South died as well.

This book will appeal to anyone who wants to learn about the rich growers of the Old South. Hammond pays attention to the details of his plantation and personal life, clearly describing the ancient Southern period in American history. Gilpin Faust seamlessly guides readers through Hammond's life and career, allowing readers to hate Hammond on one page and cheer him up next time. Other works by Harvard University President Gilpin Faust include "the slavery women in the American Civil War" and "the creation of federal nationalism in the Southern Civil War: ideology and my teeth."

Gilpin Faust used the communication between Hammond and his children as the main evidence of his control. Because his children depend on him for financial assistance, "Hammond uses his economic power to consolidate his psychological dominance." (320) because Hammond needs control, Hammond's children never feel like adults. Gilpin Foster convincingly believes that Hammond wants his children to rely on him and want his own way. (325) For example, when Hammond was in his fifties, he was ready to let his son take over the plantation. When the civil war broke out and Hammond’s eldest son, Harry, recruited personnel for the South, Hammond complained that Harry ignored all plantation work. (367) Hammond did not stop there. In a particularly memorable article, Gilpin Faust transcribed a letter from Hammond to his brother to control his bowel movements. (376) in the world of Hammond, every action, whether involuntary or not, can be controlled.

Gilpin Faust explained that Hammond hopes to use his detailed planting records to master the environment. Hammond is a meticulous record keeper, especially when he comes to his plantation. In his growing journal, Hammond tracks crop yields, crop testing, slave efficiency and agricultural economics. Readers can easily understand that Hammond is based entirely on Gilpin Faust's attempt to use the Hammond Plantation Journal. For a better understanding of Hammond's planting records, you can also refer to the appendix.

A one-minute record does not satisfy Hammond's ability to seek absolute advantage in all aspects of plantation; he also needs to control the details of slave life. Shortly after obtaining the reins of the Silver Bluff plantation, Hammond began to play his own dominance in his slaves. In order to prevent religion from becoming a carrier of the slave uprising, Hammond ordered the black religious conference to stop. Gilpin Faust believes that Hammond's plan to impose a versatile plan on his slaves is to deprive them of their religious activities, but the other part shows his slaves that they are their benefactors. Thus, although the black religious conference was stopped, Hammond allowed white clergy to serve black people even if they were in a very controlled environment. (73-74)

In all his efforts, Gilpin Foster pointed out a field in which Hammond could not control his sexual desire. Hammond has an awkward relationship with his two slaves. He even admitted to having two children with these two women, who happened to be mothers and daughters. (87) In the typical Hammond style, when his wife Catherine discovered and demanded the sale of two slaves, Hammond took control of the situation and did not allow them to sell. (316)

In another example where Hammond could not control sexual desire, Gilpin Foster described the unfortunate events with Hammond and his four young prostitutes Harriet, Catherine, Anne and Caroline Hampton. (241) Although Hammond admits that this is not appropriate, the influence of his political career is serious, not to mention that he is exiled from his extended Hampton family. Although Hammond did not live during the post-conflict reconstruction period, Blight's historical memory of race and reunion still applies to Hammond's life: Hammond is an evil white supremacist. Hammond is eager to be an old Southern writer and he has written some prosperous pamphlets. Here, Hammond will prove that slavery is proved by hierarchical ideology, which not only requires whites to rule blacks, but also requires whites to be like his own intellectual endowments. (279) Hammond not only believes that whites should rule blacks, but whites, especially whites of the southern aristocracy, are better than blacks, just like themselves. In the respite of the last two years, Hammond brought this dominant idea to Europe. Hammond is used to a group of slaves to meet all his needs and is impatient with European servants and the free labor system. The climax of the incident entered Hammond’s attack on the servant and spent the night in a Belgian prison, “between all the felons.” (199) James Henry Hammond and the Old South are one of the true sons of the Old South. Great biography. James Henry Hammond is part of the old Southern elite: wealthy, intelligent, white supremacist and slave owner. Gilpin Faust provides readers with first-hand information about Hammond's life and the reality of elite Southerners in the early days of the Civil War.