Form
A
review of the book, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it
Changed America, by John Barry
It is a five hundred and twenty four page book
written by John M. Barry and is about the floods event of the year 1927
associated with Mississippi River. However, it was published in 1997 by Simon
and Schuster. It is about a wide range of subject matters that range from
floods, governance, politics and social, cultural characteristics of the
American society at the time (Barry, 1997).
Introduction
The book provides an account of the flooding
that took place in the year 1927 which was caused by Mississippi and considered
as one of the country’s greatest natural disaster. It is a story that is told
in the points of view of two periods in history the first being before the
flood where there were constant debates as to the fate of the river and its
risk of flooding. It explains various perspectives by different engineers over
the course of action to be taken. The other perspective takes place after the
floods and expresses the devastation the flood had on the people. It reflects
on the social, cultural aspect of the society, especially that between white
Americans and African Americans. It also explores some political factors that
develop as a result of the floods (Barry, 1997).
John
Barry who is the author of the book was a well-known historian he was born in
the year 1947 and has had great contributions to the world of writing. His
themes are a wide range, from historical accounts, scientific information and
also matters of the state in the form of politics and governance.
The
purpose of the book is to provide historical accounts of the great flood caused
by the Mississippi River in the year 1927. The event of the floods led to great
changes such as the need for the government to have more involvement in the
society. It led to political changes in the country especially in relation to
natural disasters. The book shows the social, cultural characteristics of the
country at the time regarding relationships between different racial groups
especially whites and African American. It describes the migration of African
Americans to the northern states as a result of the floods and also explores
some of the great engineering development established based on the new policies
developed in relation to the consequences of the floods (Barry, 1997).
The
scope of the story from the book revolves around aspects of political
development in the country. The development of the New Deal by the government
as a measure to have more interest in matters of the public. It also came at a
time when economic aspects of the country were at a downfall due to the great
depression. The book also explores the migration of African Americans to the
north due to the devastating effects of the floods as well as the economic
opportunities in the northern states. It explored the period during the
reconstruction characterized by developments in the country after the civil war
and was characterized by negative relations between whites and blacks. It also
explores the political developments especially of some of the people associated
with help to people during the floods a good example is the rise of President
Hubert Hoover. His direct involvement in helping out during the floods gave him
a great reputation that rose him to power (Barry,
1997).
Description
The
book describes the flood and how it transformed the nation. It explores aspects
of race relation, changes to the land and also effects that it had to the
politics of the nation. It also best describes aspects of the food in terms of
the theories that support the occurrence, the causality it had regarding the
destruction of property as well as the loss of life. It integrates aspects of
the natural occurrence in social and political factors of the nation at the
time. The book as explained above explores two aspects. The first being before
the floods and the second after the floods. In the first section, Barry
explores the conflicts that existed between different engineers all of whom had
their own vision of the way the river could be controlled to ensure safety and
reduce the risks of floods. On one side there were those who argued towards the
developing of levies ton increase the speed of the current in order for the
river to have more action on its bed meaning that its depth would have to be
increased. This means that navigation would be made easier and would help in
economic development of the region along the river through developed water
transport systems. The other side argued against it and saw the need to develop
more channels to redirect the flow and reduce the power of the river. This
would ensure that the risk of floods is reduced. The other aspect is associated
with after the floods occurred and mainly focuses on the socio-political
factors that the flood led to. The flood sparked the African American migration
to the northern states of the country for better opportunity, and also to run
away from the devastations of the flood. The book also
describes the conflict between transport systems that policymakers were divided
because of (Barry, 1997).
Evaluation
The books explore both natural aspects of the
flood and their socio-political influence in the country. The author was
effective in developing different perspectives of the story and most of all
conflicting factors within the story. This is a very effective method which
enabled the book to have depth and explore various factors that arise from the
disaster. The fields were one of the greatest natural catastrophes in the
country and made the historical account of the book show how such incidences necessitate
change within the society. The validity of judgment is based on exploring both
sides of the coin in order to allow readers decide for themselves the side they
wish to pick. After that is when the author provides his own point of view. The
book is filled with personal opinions and reflections of situations from the
event. An example is associated with the author's point of view in relation to
the Levy policies developed with the aim of enhancing the transport system
provided for by the river. His focus on his point of view in the book sometimes
leads him astray and does not give room for readers to make choices of their
own because the influence he has on the information (Rising Tide, 2017).
Summary
The book does so well in providing a vivid
description of the historical account of the floods. It describes the social,
political aspect associated with the floods in a very captivating and
interesting manner. The author's ability to describe conflicting aspects of the
story enables him to develop a good story that people can easily follow and
enjoy reading. The books describe one of the greatest engineering developments
attributed to the devastating effects the dam had in the country. It explores
race relation regarding how African Americans fled to the north. It is a book
with great significance in explaining the history of the United States based on
a natural disaster. It explores various important themes that led to change in
the country (Rising Tide, 2017).
References
Barry, J. M. (1997). Rising tide: the great
Mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed America. New York: Simon
& Schuster.
Rising Tide. (2017). Retrieved from http://www-personal.umich.edu/~copyrght/image/solstice/win98/review.htm
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