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William J. Cooper Jr.

ウィリアム・J・クーパー・ジュニア

William J. Cooper Jr.

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1940-10-22 （Kingstree, South Carolina, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Kingstree, South Carolina — birthplace → Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Louisiana State University (employment)

Career

Occupations
Historian, Professor
Active Years
1968-
Affiliations
Louisiana State University
Influenced By
David Herbert Donald

Education

Princeton University
Country: United States
Undergraduate studies completed (specific degree/year not provided)
Johns Hopkins University
Country: United States
Graduate study (degree/year not confirmed). Academic advisor: David Herbert Donald

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Conservative Regime: South Carolina, 1877-1890

1968 History

An academic study analyzing the political regime and the rise of conservative forces in post-Reconstruction South Carolina.

ReconstructionSouthern politics

The South and the Politics of Slavery, 1828-56

1979 History

Discusses political controversies and institutional development surrounding slavery in the South between 1828 and 1856.

SlaverySouthern politics

Liberty and Slavery

1983 History

An examination of the historical relationship between the concept of 'liberty' in the United States and the institution of slavery.

LibertySlaveryIntellectual history

The American South: A History

1996 History

Coauthored with Tom E. Terrill. A comprehensive historical overview of the American South suitable as a textbook.

Southern historySocial history

Jefferson Davis, American

2000 Biography / History

Considered one of the definitive biographies detailing the life and thought of Jefferson Davis, leader of the Confederacy.

BiographyCivil WarPolitical leadership
Adaptations
  • [Video (interview)] Booknotes interview: Jefferson Davis, American (2001)

Jefferson Davis and the Civil War Era

2008 History

Analyzes Davis and his era from a broad perspective, portraying his leadership and the political and social background of the South.

Jefferson DavisCivil WarLeadership

We Have the War Upon Us: The Onset of the Civil War, November 1860-April 1861

2012 History

Focuses on the months immediately before and after the outbreak of the Civil War, tracing events and decisive factors in detail.

Onset of the Civil WarPolitical crisis

The Lost Founding Father: John Quincy Adams and the Transformation of American Politics

2017 Biography / Political history

A study exploring the transformation of American politics through the life of John Quincy Adams.

Political historyBiography

Approaching Civil War and Southern History

2019 History

A collection of essays aimed at deepening understanding of the Civil War and Southern history.

Civil WarHistorical essays

Bibliography

  • The Conservative Regime: South Carolina, 1877-1890
  • The South and the Politics of Slavery, 1828-56
  • Liberty and Slavery
  • The American South: A History
  • Jefferson Davis, American
  • Jefferson Davis and the Civil War Era
  • We Have the War Upon Us: The Onset of the Civil War, November 1860-April 1861
  • The Lost Founding Father: John Quincy Adams and the Transformation of American Politics
  • Approaching Civil War and Southern History

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scholarly, narrative styleRigorous analysis based on primary sources
Recurring Motifs
Southern politics and social structuresBiographical studies of leadersConcepts of slavery and liberty

Legacy

William J. Cooper Jr. is regarded as a leading historian of the American South, especially noted for his studies of Jefferson Davis, and has made significant scholarly contributions to the understanding of Southern history.

Academic Societies

  • American Historical Association

Trivia

  • Born in 1940 in Kingstree, South Carolina.
  • Served two years as an officer in the United States Army.
  • Spent his academic career at Louisiana State University.
  • Listed spouse: Patricia Holmes.