The Shelf2Life History of the American South Collection is a group of unique pre-1923 books that examine the people and events that shaped this region of the United States. From the rise of slavery on farms and plantations to the rejuvenated demand for tobacco and cotton, many of these volumes focus on the intense changes experienced in the antebellum South. Significant attention is given to the politics of the early 19th century, thus offering readers a broad overview of the events that lead to the Civil War and eventual destruction of the South. The Shelf2Life History of the American South Collections provides insight into the controversial political and economic beliefs of notable southern leaders and citizens and the struggles they faced with reconstruction.