Books about Charleston and other Educational Resources we Recommend
Blogs, Books, Podcasts, and Websites
Do you want some books about Charleston? Do you want to study more about Charleston and history in general? Our commitment to teaching extends far beyond your time with us on tour. If you were one of the thousands of guests we’ve inspired to delve deeper into our nation’s roots, you might enjoy exploring these additional resources.
On a side note: If you took one of Cooper’s tours he may have told you about the 1793 law for the resuscitation of apparently dead bodies. It’s hard to believe, but here is a link to the Charleston podcast that explains it.
PLEASE NOTE: Books, Websites, and Podcasts, are a single data point. They often contain an unintentional bias, and should not presume to illustrate the entire subject.
Vetted Historical Educational Resources
Take a deeper dive into history with the Blueberry Tour Co/Op’s video history blog. Hosted by Eric Wright, former historian for the city of Charleston, this video blog explores topics ranging from The Walled City to Fire in colonial Charleston and even Charleston’s colonial cemeteries. Check it out!
Charleston Under Siege – The Impregnable City
Charleston! Charleston!: The History of a Southern City
White Cargo: The History of Britain’s White Slaves in America
The Charleston Tea Party
The Buildings of Charleston: A Guide to the City’s Architecture
The Indian Slave Trade: The Rise of the English Empire 1670-1717
Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’
1776 – A look at the Revolutionary War, by David McCullough
The Wanderer: The Last American Slave Ship
The Charleston Time Machine Podcast
Slave Voyages Interactive Map
The Proprietors of Carolina by William S. Powellston!
Black Slaveowners: Free Black Slave Masters in South Carolina
The US Constitution and Other Writings
The U.S. Constitution and Other Writing is part of the Leather-bound Classics series and is a collection of the crucial documents, speeches, and other writings that shaped the United States. In addition to the Constitution, readers can review the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, important presidential speeches, and many others. Click Here for Amazon
South Carolina: A History Hardcover
In this comprehensive history of South Carolina, Walter Edgar presents a sweeping chronicle of a state with an illustrious, sometimes infamous, past. He describes in very human terms 475 years of recorded history in the Palmetto State, including the experiences of all South Carolinians―those with roots in Africa and in Europe as well as Native Americans; male and female; rich and poor. Click Here for Amazon
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book
The Founders fought tirelessly to guarantee our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it—the Bill of Rights can be hard to understand. Join Sean Patrick as he explains a complicated document in a very simple and understandable way Click Here for Amazon
The Battle of Fort Sumter: A Guide to the First Battle of the American Civil War
It all started here in Charleston. However, it may not have started the way you think it did. Discover the events behind the first engagement of the American Civil War, the Battle of Fort Sumter, that unfolded from April 12th to April 14th, 1861. Click Here for Amazon
Cooper’s History Blog
Join Cooper on a journey through time as he explores history’s known and little-known facts – from why Charleston is called the Holy City, to who named the famous Angel Oak tree, and even why bar owners were paid to resuscitate dead bodies. A quarter of a million people read Cooper’s blog….you should too. Cooper’s Blog
The Gullah: The History and Legacy of the African American Ethnic Group in the American Southeast
In the Southeast is a lesser-known, but equally indispensable subculture based within a 500-mile radius of the coastal South Atlantic states and Sea Islands. These culture bearers, who refer to themselves as the Gullah Geechee, or the “Gullah” for short, are the descendants and rightful heirs of the once-shackled rice-growing slaves who resided in these parts. Click Here for Amazon
The Civil War: A Visual History
This comprehensive, visually arresting guide covers the history, causes, and consequences of the Civil War. This book takes a deep dive as It provides eyewitness accounts by soldiers and civilians, key profiles of military leaders, and clear timelines that give an overview of how the events developed. Click Here for Amazon
The Westo Indians: Slave Traders of the Early Colonial South
The Westo Indians lived in the Savannah River region during the second half of the 17th century. This narrative traces their northeastern origins and how the Erie conflicts with the Five Nations Iroquois in the Beaver Wars forced them southward, where they found new economic opportunities in the lucrative Indian slave trade. At the height of their influence, between 1659 and 1680, it is believed the Westos captured and sold several thousand Indians into slavery. Click Here for Amazon
Slavery, The Slave Trade, Rhode Island, and Brown University
To explain and clarify Rhode Island’s and Brown University’s role in the American slave trade. Brown University has authored a study addressing how it, its founders the Brown family, and the state of Rhode Island played a dominant part in the sale and exploitation of slaves in America. At one point sponsoring as many as 90% of imported slaves to the colonies.
The Civil War is most often described as one in which brother fought against brother. But the most devastating war fought on American soil was also one in which women demonstrated heroic deeds, selfless acts, and courage beyond measure. Women mobilized soup kitchens and relief societies. Women cared for wounded soldiers. Women were effective spies. And it is estimated that 300 women fought on the battlefields, usually disguised as men. Click Here for Amazon
The American Indian slave trade was a huge economic factor of the newly settled northern colonies as far back as 1643.
“Between 1492 and 1880, between 2 and 5.5 million Native Americans were enslaved in the Americas in addition to 12.5 million African slaves.”
A 2017 Study by Brown University historians finds that Native Americans who surrendered during King Philip’s War were sold into slavery, with long-lasting effects.
The Whiskey Rebellion is an event many historians characterize as a seminal event in the timeline of America.
In March 1791, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton shocked the western frontier when he proposed a domestic excise tax on whiskey to balance America’s national debt. The law, known colloquially as the “Whiskey Act,” disproportionately penalized farmers in the backcountry, while offering favorable tax incentives designed to protect larger distillers – then Hamilton declared war on them. Find it on Amazon
1812: The War That Forged a Nation: By Walter R. Borneman.
A popular history book that details the War of 1812, arguing it was a crucial conflict that solidified American identity, tested its leaders, and set the stage for westward expansion. The book covers major land and sea battles, introduces key figures like Andrew Jackson and Laura Secord, and explores the origins of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” presenting a narrative of a young nation finding its purpose through both humiliating defeats and glorious victories. Find it on Amazon
Signing Their Rights Away: The Men Who Signed the Constitution, By Denise Kiernan & Joseph D’Agnese.
Signing Their Rights Away chronicles a moment in American history when our elected officials knew how to compromise—and put aside personal gain for the greater good of the nation. These men were just as quirky and flawed as the elected officials we have today: Hugh Williamson believed in aliens, Robert Morris went to prison, Jonathan Dayton stole $18,000 from Congress, and Thomas Mifflin was ruined by alcohol. Yet somehow these imperfect men managed to craft the world’s most perfect Constitution. Find it on Barnes & Noble
