Predominant Clan Mind Set and Feuding in Appalachia - Term Paper Example

Predominant clan mind set and feuding in Appalachia Criminal justice system and the legal framework in any nation, state or region is important since it ensures that justice is delivered to all. It is also important to note that physical barrier as well as social and cultural barriers can present a stumbling block to the deliverance of justice to people or an individual. Lack of awareness and the predominant cultural beliefs are very instrumental in determining the ease with which individuals would seek justice. In the region of Appalachia, the people there had a kind of mindset that justice can never be gotten from the courts and hence did not seek justice from the courts but instead resorted from violence. It is important to note that the Appalachians did not have trust in the justice system and hence resolved most of their issues of conflict with violence. Settlements 1The mountainous regions were invaded by the settlers from Irish, Scottish and those from welsh. The understanding of these earlier settlements in Appalachian is sometimes difficult with respect to the time they settled and the purpose for their immigration into this land. It is believed that the Irish and the Scottish were the first to settle within the mountainous regions. The main purpose for these settlements was to come and bring Christianity to their new found land and hence revolutionize the people who inhabited this region. It is also important to note that the settlers who came to this region were mainly Christians who loved music very much. Their purpose of civilization and the spread of their respective religious believes were however very futile. One important thing with these settlements however was noticed as music and the spread of music in this region; however, they found many challenges. There were very few churches as well as very few Christians and hence it was very difficult to establish themselves well. However, they mainly settled along the coastal regions along the North Carolina coasts, cape Fear River as well as Wilmington. However, few others found themselves in Appalachian highlands. These settlements were very important in the Appalachian since they affected the music of the Appalachian highlands as well as the life styles. The living styles were affected much by the Scottish and the Irish who came with the idea of Christianity and forgiveness. However, they faced challenges of remoteness and the inability to communicate efficiently within the region because of the physical barriers that were created by the mountainous topography of the place. However, Appalachian served as a new land for transformation since it resulted into the transformation of the people and their beliefs. It is however important to note that this took long time since the population was highly dispersed with reference to their population. 2Physical barriers served as the stumbling blocks to civilization and resulted into lack of trust for the legal systems that existed. Because of this, the option that remained for the people in case of conflicts and disputes was to resort to wars and violence. The mistrust they had with the legal system played a very important role in later years after settlement in the ignition of conflicts and violence that resulted into long periods of feuds as reported by researchers. It is also important to note that as new settlers, they did not only perceive courts and the systems as inappropriate but they also perceive d the people in the same way. 3Appalachia regions were isolated due to its topography and hence reaching there was not easy. This resulted into lagging behind other regions in terms of social, political and economic development. It is also believed that these people were not well educated and hence there was no public awareness with respect legal system and the procedures to seek justice through the courts. Among all these, cultural beliefs and poverty played an important role in determining the way of life of the Appalachian people since they depended mainly on the natural resources as well as agriculture as the main sources of income. It is because of this lack of trust negative political, social and economic problems that influenced feuding in Appalachia. It is therefore important to note that little conflicts like differences in opinions, lack of trust and disagreements often led to conflicts and feuds since these issues could not be solved within the legal system. It is important to recognize that the legal system was in existence but because of lack of trust among the Appalachians, it was not recognized and used to solve disputes. 4In the year 1860, some Europeans indicated that the civilization of these people were far much behind the civilizations of the ordinary Americans. During this time, although courts and other law enforcement agencies existed, the topography of the nation as well as the fact that the population was sparsely populated made it very difficult to enforce the law and deliver justice for all. As a result, justice was searched through the available means. It is also evident that lack of trust for the courts and the other law agencies also played a vital role in influencing feuds among the people and hence was a threat to peaceful co-existence of the people. The distrusts of the courts were mainly witnessed among the people of mountainous because of the several incidences in which conflicts were mainly resolved through violence which influenced certain and very long feuds in the region. Among some of the major issues upon which the disputes arose were among the most trivial matters, matter which could easily be solved within a a legal system. They included but not limited to women, livestock, politics and thievery. It is important to note that these three issues were the major sources of conflicts which fueled strife and finally resulted into feuding as an effort to resolve them.5 Issues such as killing of a dog, doing something bad to women or the straying livestock were evident triggers of violence between friends, families and neighborhoods turning against the other neighborhoods. The division of sentiments with regard to civil war was the major cause of disputes among the people as had been described by many scientists and politicians. It is also important to note that during this time, there were several efforts to intimidate both sides of the different ideologists. Bad relationships were therefore created by these efforts to suppress the raiding vandals. These people were viewed as invaders of this land and hence they were not given any opportunity to express themselves. Since they never believed in the justice system, it was difficult for the immigrants to assist in the establishment of a system that could end the violence. Several attempts to civilize the mountainous regions were futile since the topography hindered the accessibility and lack of trust in the people carrying the civilization process was also a major drawback. The people of Appalachia did not only lack trust with the justice as a system but also lacked trust with those in the system. 6“The major feuds of Appalachia included those of Hatfield-McCoy (1880–1887), Martin-Tolliver (1874–1887), French-Eversole (1885–1894), and Hargis-Callahan-Cockrell (1899–1903)”. These wars resulted into thousands of deaths in many areas especially in the county seat towns during the days that people attended the courts. It is also important to note that the killing that resulted from ambush had increased in large numbers and hence it was very difficult to quench it. The people fought during the day and night and hence the war increased other social and economical problems leading to the increased level of poverty and dependence ratio. Poverty that lasted for very long was a clear indication of the war that was to continue for over very long time as people struggled for the few available resources. 7Martin and Tolliver feud of more head Kentucky was one of the strong and the wide battle that was fought and ended a very long time of feud. This battle resulted from the difference or the conflicts between the Tolliver faction and the martin faction of the Rowan County. It is believed that this was the main feud that ended a long struggle between the two warring sides. It is important to note that the parties signed different peace deals but these peace deals could be broken again and different emergence of war were still witnessed at different times. The governor also tried at different times to settle the long feud but was not successful and as a result there was increased fear and mistrust within the courts. The battle could even emerge within the courts especially. This was evident when some of the Tolliver’s men were indicted for carrying weapons to the courts during court sessions. This is an indication that people never respected courts since they had no trust in the same courts as well. Hatfield and McCoy was also another feud that resulted from a love triangle. It was a conflict between two clans as a result of one shooting the other. McCoy and Hatfield also involved themselves in a battle that took long but was ended after long peace agreements. Generally the feuds were as a result of lack trust in the legal system. This resulted into many conflicts being settled through wars that resulted into long feuds. Works Cited Jones, Virgil Carrington. “The Hatfields and the McCoy.” Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1948. Klotter, James C. “Kentucky: portrait in paradox, 1900-1950.” Kentucky, Kentucky Historical Society, 1996. Ledford, Katherine. “Back Talk from Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes.” Kentucky: University press of Kentucky, 1999. Nicholson, Scott. “Scott-Irish in Appalachia.” http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/scottst37.htm . April 21, 2011. Shapiru, Henry D. “Appalachia on Our Mind: The Southern Mountains and Mountaineers in the American Consciousness, 1870-1920.” North Carolina: University of North Carolina, 1978. Slap, Andrew L. “Reconstructing Approach: The Civil War’s aftermath.” Kentucky: The University Press, 2010. Read More