Southern History Database: Keywords

Below are the eighteen keywords that everyone will use to help identify their episodes. For every episode, write down all of the terms below that apply. Many episodes will have more than one keyword (some will have many), a few will have only one, and a small number may have none of the below. If you have any questions about the keywords, please ask your TA. (You may want to print the list below to reference as you research your entries.)
  • African Americans: For any reference to an African American man or woman.


  • Agriculture: For any discussion of a specific farm/plantation or of the general state of agriculture and food production.


  • Arts/Leisure: For any reference to plays, songs, games, or any other form of entertainment or leisure time activity.


  • Church/Religious Activity: For any reference to church activity or religious sentiment, including revivals, formal church services, or any expression of religious beliefs.


  • Crime/Violence: For any discussion of crimes, violence committed, or more general discussions of crime in society.


  • Health/Death: For any references to a person's health (good or bad), medical care, death, or general discussions of the state of health in an area.


  • Economy: For any specific references to economic activity or conditions.


  • Education: For any reference to education, schools, self-directed learning, or lack thereof.


  • Government: This can refer to any discussion of government at the local, state, or national levels.


  • Law: For references to legal issues, legislation, court cases, or any interactions of the legal system in people's lives.


  • Migration/Transportation: For references to people moving from one place to another (either long or short distances) and discussions of transportation in general.


  • Native Americans: For any references to Indian tribes and peoples.


  • Politics: This can refer to numerous forms of politics such as speeches, elections, partisan editorials, and references to political issues.


  • Race Relations: For discussion of the relationship between whites, African Americans, and American Indians, from relationships between specific individuals to more general ideas about the racial order of society.


  • Slavery: For specific references to a slave, a group of slaves, or the institution of slavery (including political views).


  • Women: Use for any reference to an individual woman, any women's activities, ideas about women's role in society, or references to relationships between women and their families.


  • Urban Life/Boosterism: For references to life in urban areas (cities, towns, villages) or efforts at developing an area.


  • War: For references to wars, battles, or potential armed conflicts. This could encompass both large wars (such as the War of 1812 or Civil War), or smaller conflicts (such as clashes between Indians and white settlers).


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