Chapter 1 | The Feud | American Experience | PBS

The real story behind the Hatfields and the McCoys, the most famous family conflict in American history.
The most famous family conflict in American history, the Hatfield-McCoy feud evolved into a mythic American tale of jealousy, rage and revenge - and one which helped create the negative “hillbilly” stereotype that has shaped attitudes towards Appalachia for more than a century. Much more than a tale of two warring families, The Feud is the story of a region and its people forced into sudden change by Eastern capitalists, who transformed Appalachia from an agrarian mountain community into a coal and timber producing workplace owned and run primarily by outside interests.
Learn more about THE FEUD, including where to find the full film: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexper...

[@danireviewsstuff]

I had no idea they inspired those cartoons. You can actually hear them say McCoy! I grew up watching those. Wow! So interesting.

[@nancyvillines4552]

The one with Bugs as a Yankee against Yosemite Sam as the Confederate. I remember that one also. And the one's making the Japanese look stupid during the War. Luckily most of us grew up and realized real life. And the camps we put Japanese Americans in.

[@kenlodge3399]

Not speaking on the feud or its applicants, but the plight of the people of the mountainous region of western Virginia or eastern Kentucky, I always believed what elevated the development and living standards amongst them was the TVA. It was the introduction of household power, lights, etc., more than anything else that lifted these people out of their "Old Ways".

[@JustMe-mh2pn]

I found this small and super interesting documentary. Very informative and really well told. Personally, I find it very sad and humiliating what stories are still spread today about the people of Appalachia. From inbreeding to ignorance. I personally think that this family tragedy is very significant at a time when it was all about pure survival. The Civil War certainly changed people, and the South in particular suffered greatly under the circumstances that prevailed after the war. All in all, adverse living conditions in which it could very easily come to such disputes. I personally find the story of these two families extremely interesting. Even if it was connected with a lot of suffering over decades

[@kylegoodreau2170]

gotta love American experience

[@Sean-jc6cu]

My mom's family is from WV. This is great.

[@LeeF945]

I can't wait to watch this!

[@berngie7288]

Both of my parents were from West Virginia.

[@FarmerS69]

And my great great grandmother was just a kid when the feud was happening

[@lancehurley9743]

Fleming Hurley,a descendant of mine,was involved in this feud

[@FarmerS69]

I am related to the McCoy’s my great great grandmother was in the first book I can’t remember her real name but her nickname was Pet McCoy I think

[@kittie4201x]

My boyfriend is related to the hatfields

[@CutThroatah]

Damn even the lil kids was strapped to the tee 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@keatonconn8159]

I am devil anse Great great great grandson Proud to be part of the hayfield clan

[@yourinnerlawyer4035]

And I'm Randall's great great great granddaughter.

[@danielblackburn1241]

@@yourinnerlawyer4035 you guys should get together. See if you get along

[@anthonytroisi6682]

Usually people who claimed land long in America's past were able tp acquire wealth. This does not, however, seem to be the case in Appalachia. Was the lack of development in the area due to the environment? The standard of living of living seems very low in terms of material wealth.

[@stevesalkas9128]

Is that the saying the real mccoy

[@bigdog1274]

I am related to Hatfield

[@TheJoec2005]

My dad's family is from West Virginia he said we were involved in this feud he didn't explain how though

[@Shannon_Robbie]

That would be interesting to find out!

[@allgasnobrakes123]

What do they mean by intermarried?

[@heathkey5407]

Married between families.

[@jimdandy_one]

We all descended from some version of Hatfield or McCoy's.

[@EmmeStAnne]

This is a very interesting history that I never heard of. Of course PBS will present this with an obvious slant. Nonetheless I will watch this doc and then conduct my own research.

[@corey-bird3489]

Faux Journalist The Kevin Costner miniseries is really good too.

[@janethagaman1998]

Where the heck do you live? Everyone has heard the legend of the Hatfield's and McCoy's. And you can trust PBS to be truthful, and Historically accurate.

[@hatfieldmccoy2359]

Hope you enjoyed learning our family history!

[@lylecampbell9036]

Janet no you can not trust PBS

[@jwduded1758]

Im from Kentucky Harlan County.

[@BoyTrain872]

Bugs Bunny on American experience.

[@xello5246]

Anyone from school assignment?

[@clairehigginbotham6199]

XELLO: Me

[@vashon100]

Idiodically assembled series. Fist is chap1, then no chap 2 3 4 label. , only 8 min long and remainder are 1 or 2 min. How stupid.

[@vashon100]

First vs fist

[@JOHN----DOE]

Sorry, this is NOT the "American Story"--the reality is the book "Hillbilly Elegy." Some of my ancestors were Scotch-Irish and settled in the WVa-Pennsylvania border area in the late 1700s. Within one generation they had educated themselves out of the log cabins (one was an early grad of Bethany College). Within two generations, they became doctors, dentists, businessmen (one was chief counsel to the MKT Railroad). On the other side, my "rural ancestors" in 19thc western NYS didn't run around having 11 children; they worked on the family farm--and teaching school--til around the age of 30 when they could afford to buy land and start a family. And, of course, they were ALL anti-slavery and fought for the Union. The kind of lifestyle depicted here is the losers who refused to evolve and become educated beyond their primitive roots.

[@thomashahn631]

My grandmother got a degree from Northwestern. Her sister was a successful architect who corresponded with the author Theodore Dreiser. Their mom was Katie McCoy - a child during the feud who was whisked away to Ohio.