The American Slave Coast offers a provocative vision of US history from earliest colonial times through emancipation that presents even the most familiar events and figures in a revealing new light. Authors Ned and Constance Sublette tell the brutal story of how the slavery industry made the reproductive labor of the people it referred to as “breeding women†essential to the young country’s expansion. Captive African Americans in the slave nation were not only laborers; but merchandise and collateral all at once. In a land without silver; gold; or trustworthy paper money; their children and their children’s children into perpetuity were used as human savings accounts that functioned as the basis of money and credit in a market premised on the continual expansion of slavery. Slaveowners collected interest in the form of newborns; who had a cash value at birth and whose mothers had no legal right to say no to forced mating. This gripping narrative is driven by the power struggle between the elites of Virginia; the slave-raising “mother of slavery;†and South Carolina; the massive importer of Africans—a conflict that was central to American politics from the making of the Constitution through the debacle of the Confederacy. Virginia slaveowners won a major victory when Thomas Jefferson’s 1808 prohibition of the African slave trade protected the domestic slave markets for slave-breeding. The interstate slave trade exploded in Mississippi during the presidency of Andrew Jackson; drove the US expansion into Texas; and powered attempts to take over Cuba and other parts of Latin America; until a disaffected South Carolina spearheaded the drive to secession and war; forcing the Virginians to secede or lose their slave-breeding industry. Filled with surprising facts; fascinating incidents; and startling portraits of the people who made; endured; and resisted the slave-breeding industry; The American Slave Coast culminates in the revolutionary Emancipation Proclamation; which at last decommissioned the capitalized womb and armed the African Americans to fight for their freedom.
#1329391 in Books Casemate 2011-10-20 2011-11-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.34 x 1.18 x 6.33l; 1.31 #File Name: 1612000630288 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Interesting but LimitedBy Paul of OzI enjoyed the sweep and description of this book but found it an excellent Military History of the year.However I felt that it did not give enough emphasis on the politics of the war. In the description of Greene's strategy and battles I was reminded of the American conflict in Vietnam and how America would win battles but lose the Political War and this is what happened with Great Britain and its army in America.Indeed what the whole book showed was the need to tie the military means with the political offensive; in other words von Clausewitz's war by other methods.I would have also enjoyed more of a discussion of the individuals in the conflict. It would also have been enjoyable to see how American society adapted to the war and the change in the status quo with Washingtons and Greene's victories and the needs of the American army and Congress.I did also have a minor quibble with some editing the name Stewart and Stuart was used for the same person.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Enjoyable ReadBy Jeff9000The Kindle Version of this book suffers from numerous editing errors including missing words; unnecessary hypens; and just plain typos. That said; my biggest problem with the Kindle Version is that the maps are very poor resolution to the point of being unusable.The content itself is an enjoyable and fast paced read. The author presents a narrative history of the American Revolution in the year 1781. The Battles of Cowpens; Guiliford Court House; and Eutaw Springs comprise some of the most interesting parts of the book with the climax at Yorktown. The real strength of the book in my opinion is that it develops the strategic situation leading to Yorktown. This book is a real treat to military history buffs; and the author deserves praise for his economy of words.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Book!!By Michael LapelosaThis book revolves around the year 1781; which the author claims was the critical year in which victory or defeat hung in the balance. While most people feel that the battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the revolutionary war; the author points out the perhaps overlooked importance of 1781 in determining the war's ultimate outcome. The troops were mutinous regarding lack of promised pay and disputes over term of enlistments. The British shifted their approach to a "Southern Strategy" and won a crushing victory at Charleston. The British were attempting to separate the colonies at retain the southern portion.Good; crisp prose; simple to read maps; vivid descriptions of battles and personalities give this narrative an urgency that engrosses the reader. The author highlights the overlooked importance of these campaigns and battles. This is an informative; entertaining and important book.
