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John Henry: Steel Driving Man
Manage episode 450731886 series 2110953
This episode of Southern Gothic originally aired on March 5, 2021.
When the Civil War drew to a close, the United States’ railway networks, particularly those in the Southern states, were in shambles. During the Reconstruction era, the rehabilitation of the southern rails and expansion of transcontinental railroads became a major undertaking, and as the importance of the railroad rose.
In the three decades after the Civil War over 170,000 miles of track were added to America’s railway system; it opened the western states for further settlement and reestablished the accessibility of the southern states. The accomplishment required a considerable workforce, and railway companies became a significant employers of thousands of men finally freed from enslavement.
The work was dangerous, physically intensive, and time-consuming. It’s unknown exactly how many men lost their lives to injury or illness while expanding the nation’s railroad system during Reconstruction, but the legacy of these men lives on in one of the most enduring folk heroes in American history…the ballad of John Henry, the steel-driving man.
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236 episodes
Manage episode 450731886 series 2110953
This episode of Southern Gothic originally aired on March 5, 2021.
When the Civil War drew to a close, the United States’ railway networks, particularly those in the Southern states, were in shambles. During the Reconstruction era, the rehabilitation of the southern rails and expansion of transcontinental railroads became a major undertaking, and as the importance of the railroad rose.
In the three decades after the Civil War over 170,000 miles of track were added to America’s railway system; it opened the western states for further settlement and reestablished the accessibility of the southern states. The accomplishment required a considerable workforce, and railway companies became a significant employers of thousands of men finally freed from enslavement.
The work was dangerous, physically intensive, and time-consuming. It’s unknown exactly how many men lost their lives to injury or illness while expanding the nation’s railroad system during Reconstruction, but the legacy of these men lives on in one of the most enduring folk heroes in American history…the ballad of John Henry, the steel-driving man.
Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free?
- Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More
- Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify
- Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts
- Into History: History Without Interruption
Connect with Southern Gothic Media:
- Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com
- Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch
- Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia
- Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia
- Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia
- X: @SoGoPodcast
Advertise on this podcast: press@southerngothicmedia.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
236 episodes
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