HISTORICAL RESEARCH
I. The History Of The City
The Founding Of The City
1. Who were the founders of the city?
The General
Assembly authorized seven commissioners: William LEA, Kinza
JOHNSON, William
STANDIFER,
William ROBERTSON, Joseph GRAYSON, Solomon MASSINGALE, and Hugh
supervise the selection of
a Court of Pleas and Quarter Session (a body now known as the County
Court) to conduct the judicial and business
affairs of the county.
2. What was their reason for building
the city?
By 1801 there were
enough people in the region above Copper Ridge and Poplar Creek to warrant
the establishment of a new county, named
decreed and built that year, near a popular spring and ford
on the north side of the Clinch.
What were their philosophies or beliefs?
What was there vision for the future of the city?
3. What is the significance of the
original name of the city?
Originally,
Burrville (1801). The name was in honor of Aaron Burr who was Vice
President of the U S
Burr's duel and fatal wounding of Alexander Hamilton caused Burrville's
name to be changed
Has the name
been changed?
An act by the Tennessee
Legislature changed the name of the town to
It was renamed
Does the name have a reflection on the character of the city?
The Later History Of The City
1. What role has the city played in the life and character of the nation?
2. What has been the vision for the city of prominent leaders who have emerged?
3. Have any radical changes taken place in the cities political leadership?
4. Have there been any significant or
sudden changes in the economic life?
Depression?
Technology? Industry? Natural Resources?
From about 1895 to 1936
for pearl hunters and buyers. In 1900
5. What significant immigration has occurred?
6. How have immigrants or minorities
been treated?
Though
slave holding was not unheard of here, it was a distinct minority position:
when the slavery
issue pulled the South and
their loyalties bitterly divided.
The contest over desegregation at
its population of less than 4,000 was almost 95 percent
white. When District Judge Robert L Taylor ordered the
local high school to admit black students (previously bused
to
offered no resistance, and with an attitude "of
resignation" made preparations for orderly compliance. One year
earlier
in the junior high and high school programs without
incident. At first it appeared that
few problems. Twelve black students moved quickly past a
small group of white protesters on opening day and were
received peacefully by the staff and other students. One
black girl was even elected vice-president of her home-room
class. By the third day of classes, however, rabid
segregationist exhorters had descended upon the town, and these
"outside
agitators" began to play upon the emotional fears and racial prejudice
which always lurked near the surface
in the South. As
the twelve students walked down to the high school from "Foley Hill,"
the small black section of town,
they now faced a
gauntlet of men and women with "hate-contorted faces" shouting
insults and threatening violence.
And, as one of their white teachers
noted, "each morning the twelve children marched
straight ahead in a body,
seemingly unmindful of
those who shouted vile names. The boys led the way and the girls followed close
behind them".
Agitators came and went, were arrested, and made bail. The National Guard parked its tanks
in courthouse square and
for ten days in September gave the town an
"occupied" appearance. And for four months the black students made
their
lonely trek down the hill to a chorus of abuse. After
Christmas vacation, however,
from the state's
newspaper headlines.
On Sunday morning
School to rubble.
How have races or ethnic groups related to one another?
Have city laws legitimized racism of any kind?
7. Have city leaders broken any treaties, contracts or covenants?
8. Have any wars directly affected the
city?
The
County suffered great turmoil and desolation during the Civil War years. But
change
came
rapidly in the decades following the War. Agriculture resumed and prospered.
Were any battles fought in the city?
9. How has the city treated the poor and oppressed?
Has greed characterized city leaders?
Is there evidence of corruption among political or religious leaders?
10. What natural disasters have
affected the city?
A
fire destroyed 17 business houses and 14 residences in
11. Does the city have a motto or slogan? What does it mean?
12. What kind of music do the people listen to? What is its message?
II. The History Of Religion In The City
Non-Christian Religion
1. What were the religious views and practices of the people who inhabited the area
before the city was founded?
2. Were religious considerations important in the founding of the city?
3. Have any non-Christian religions entered the city in significant proportions?
4. What secret orders (such as Freemasonry) have been present in the city?
5. What witches' covens, satanist groups or other cults have operated in the city?
Christianity
1. When, if ever, did Christianity enter the city? Under what circumstances?
2. Have any of the early or later Christian leaders been Freemasons?
3. What role has the Christian community played in the life of the city? Has there
been changes in this?
4. Is Christianity in the city growing, plateaued or declining?
Relationships
1. Has there been conflict between religions in the city?
2. Has there been conflict between Christians?
3. What is the history of church splits in the city?
Sources:
http://www.andersoncountychamber.org/ac.html
http://www.pe.net/~rksnow/tncountyclinton.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4916/Hist.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/4916/AndBlakClinton.html