Declarations of Dependence

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Focusing on the Civil War's impact on North Carolinians, the study reveals how the conflict fostered a unique form of popular politics based on voluntary dependence rather than independence. By analyzing pleas and petitions from ordinary citizens, it argues that the war reshaped claims of dependence, exposing individuals to the vast powers of both Union and Confederate governments. This shift also weakened traditional legal bonds to authority figures such as husbands, fathers, and masters, highlighting a complex transformation in societal dynamics during this pivotal period.