Contrary to popular perception; slavery persisted in the North well into the nineteenth century. This was especially the case in New Jersey; the last northern state to pass an abolition statute; in 1804. Because of the nature of the law; which freed children born to enslaved mothers only after they had served their mother's master for more than two decades; slavery continued in New Jersey through the Civil War. Passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 finally destroyed its last vestiges.The Ragged Road to Abolition chronicles the experiences of slaves and free blacks; as well as abolitionists and slaveholders; during slavery's slow northern death. Abolition in New Jersey during the American Revolution was a contested battle; in which constant economic devastation and fears of freed blacks overrunning the state government limited their ability to gain freedom. New Jersey's gradual abolition law kept at least a quarter of the state's black population in some degree of bondage until the 1830s. The sustained presence of slavery limited African American community formation and forced Jersey blacks to structure their households around multiple gradations of freedom while allowing New Jersey slaveholders to participate in the interstate slave trade until the 1850s. Slavery's persistence dulled white understanding of the meaning of black freedom and helped whites to associate "black" with "slave;" enabling the further marginalization of New Jersey's growing free black population.By demonstrating how deeply slavery influenced the political; economic; and social life of blacks and whites in New Jersey; this illuminating study shatters the perceived easy dichotomies between North and South or free states and slave states at the onset of the Civil War.
#177278 in Books University of Pennsylvania Press 2001-01-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .48 x 5.98l; .68 #File Name: 0812217721208 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Key Primary Source for the 6th Century Byzantine ArmyBy Stefano NikolaouByzantine literature can be a funny thing! They often write as if they were still living in Ancient Greece. Their writing is full of anachronisms; vague rhetoric and obscurity. However; this will simply not do for the army - precision and clarity are essential as it is literally life or death. This brings us to the 'Strategikon'. It is a key text in understanding the Byzantine army. They were light years ahead of the barbarian armies around them in terms of sophistication. This text is full of vivid details of how a well organised army should operate - obviously based on experience. There is even an interesting 'ethnological' section on the various enemies of the Byzantines that discusses their strengths and weaknesses. What more could anyone interested in military history want?40 of 40 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding resource on Late Roman/Byzantine strategyBy FlorentiusThis is a beautifully produced translation of the Strategikon; a military manual attributed to the eastern Roman emperor Maurice and thought to have been written sometime between A.D. 580 and 600. Packed full of the accumulated wisdom of a thousand years of Hellenistic and Roman experience in warfare; the Strategikon was meant to be a primer for the novice general--roughly the Western equivalent to Sun Tzu's "Art of War."Simply put; the Strategicon is a gold mine of historical data on the Roman army of the late 6th century. It is of particular interest because this period marks a time when Roman power had made its last vain attempt to regain authority over the Western provinces of the Empire; and was now undergoing a period of contraction and collapse. The Strategikon describes an army whose core is no longer the heavy infantry of the early Roman Principate; but armored cavalry lancers and archers. It is a time when Greek was fast becoming the predominant language in Roman society as a whole; while vestiges of Latin remained in the jargon of the army. The legion of old was replaced by the meros; the centurion by the hekatontarch.The Strategikon records many aspects of the Roman army life at this time; including: induction of new recruits; description of ranks and responsibilities; formation of units; drills; rules; punishments; instructions on marching through enemy territory; foraging for food; and the set-up of fortified camps. It is rich in advice for the prospective general when battling against the various enemies of the Empire; from the Persians; to the Slavs; to the Avars and Goths. Perhaps most interesting of all; it contains several detailed diagrams for the order of battle of a Late Roman/Early Byzantine army of various sizes and configurations. It also gives a great deal of advice on how to defeat the enemy via guile; deception; misinformation; ambush; concealed traps; etc.All in all; the Strategikon is a source that can not be neglected for the scholar of the Late Roman or Byzantine army. The University of Pennsylvania Press is to be congratulated for making the work available in such an accessible and attractively-produced volume.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. but this historical "standard operating procedure" for the Byzantine Army provides a great example of an early modern way of warBy aaronLesser known publication; but this historical "standard operating procedure" for the Byzantine Army provides a great example of an early modern way of war; which provides great insight regarding the deeper planning and mature thought that goes into waging and conducting war.
