Designed specially for undergraduate course use; this new textbook is both an introduction to the study of American slavery and a reader of core texts on the subject. No other volume that combines both primary and secondary readings covers such a span of time―from the early seventeenth century to the Civil War.The book begins with a substantial introduction to the entire volume that gives an overview of slavery in North America. Each of the twelve chapters that follow has an introduction that discusses the leading secondary books and articles on the topic in question; followed by an essay and three primary documents. Questions for further study and discussion are included in the chapter introduction; while further readings are suggested in the chapter bibliography.Topics covered include slave culture; the slave-based economy; slavery and the law; slave resistance; pro-slavery ideology; abolition; and emancipation. The essays; by such eminent historians as Drew Gilpin Faust; Don E. Fehrenbacher; Eric Foner; John Hope Franklin; and Sylvia R. Frey; have been selected for their teaching value and ability to provoke discussion. Drawing on black and white; male and female experiences; the primary documents come from a wide variety of sources: diaries; letters; laws; debates; oral testimonies; travelers’ accounts; inventories; journals; autobiographies; petitions; and novels.
#281614 in Books University of Georgia Press 1984-03-01 1984-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x 1.28 x 5.50l; 1.45 #File Name: 0820307076488 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This woman's husband and the slave owners in the area seemed to struggle to provide for the number of slaves they had which I'mBy JlfIt was an interesting look at life on a plantation back in the 1800's. The content that discussed slavery and the conditions they were subjected to was difficult to read. It is hard to understand how inhumane slave owners were and yet; curiously it also helped clarify how difficult the whole system of slavery was. Feeding and clothing; in some cases; hundreds of people was a challenge. This woman's husband and the slave owners in the area seemed to struggle to provide for the number of slaves they had which I'm sure made their situation even worse. I found myself irritated with the author and her inability to change the slaves' situation while at the same time realizing there wasn't much she could do given her position. It was frustrating to read. There was a bit too much narrative concerning the flora and fauna of the area which I found myself skipping over towards the end of the book. Overall; it provided a new perspective for me and I'm glad I decided to read it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Historical Account of Southern SlaveryBy PjdellasIf you want to read a compelling; firsthand account of the conditions of slavery in the Antebellum south; this book is a MUST READ.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Journal of a Residence explains a lot about racism as we know it.By Janet DolderWe visited Georgia and South Carolina in October and heard many faint apologies for the role the southern states played in slavery. This book takes you back to the way things really were. Frances Anne Kemble's writing is very easy to read and her strong character permeates her journal. But her distaste for slavery and her sympathy for the slaves owned by her husband do not overshadow her desire to draw an accurate picture of the way slaves and those who supervised them lived together on a Georgian plantation.This book is very edifying and explains a lot about the evolution of racism in the United States. Todays stereotypes were formed two centuries ago. Everyone should read it.
