April Hughes

November 13, 2007

Honors Capstone

Literature Review

Over the past few months I have worked in order to better understand

the political, social, and economic backdrop for the southern region of the

United States during the 17th and 18th century, specifically focusing on South

Carolina in the years prior to and directly following the Revolutionary War.

William Warren Sweet is a historian who wrote extensively American

religion in 18th century and the early United States. I have also found

numerous sources written by Isaac Rhys to be useful in understanding the

historical period, which I am beginning to research. Joe King wrote a history

of the Baptists in South Carolina that was published in 1964. He is the only

historian I have read thus far who has gone into any detail about Oliver Hart

and his influence in South Carolina, with the exception of Louie Latimer

Owens who wrote the only biography on Hart in 1966. I have found several

other sources, which focus generally on the Baptist denomination, or on

religion in 18th century colonial America. Both types of sources have been

helpful.
 I am having a bit of trouble finding more recent sources. When I

footnote mine in older books, all I find of course are references to even older

works, and thus the cycle continues. I am in the process now of searching for

more recent works on these topics.