Choice Review

In An Appalachian New Deal Thomas chronicles the political history of West Virginia during the Depression. He begins with a brief overview of the state's pre-Depression political and economic condition, especially its already weakened major economic sectors, coal and agriculture. He then examines the impact of the Depression and the reactions of political leaders at all levels of government to the growing crisis. The fiscal conservatism of West Virginia's political establishment, as exemplified in the Tax Limitation Amendment of 1932, resulted in a severely limited tax base and made it difficult for the state to participate in New Deal programs that required matching funds. Competition among federal, state, and local politicians for influence and patronage made matters worse. Consequently, the New Deal's record in West Virginia was mixed. Although federal programs proved inadequate to end the Depression, they did relieve much suffering. In the long term the New Deal transformed West Virginia politics by opening up access to political power to previously excluded groups like organized labor, women, and blacks. This book will especially appeal to those interested in political history. Upper-division undergraduates and above. H. T. Blethen; Western Carolina University