Reckoning - From the Second Slavery to Abolition, 1776-1888

The Age of Revolution (1776-1848) destroyed the main slave regimes of the Caribbean but a 'Second Slavery' surged in the US South, Cuba and Brazil, powered by demand for plantation produce and a system of financial credit that leveraged the value of the slaves. By 1860, more than 6 million captives of African descent toiled to produce the cotton, sugar and coffee craved by global consumers. This 'Second Slavery' mimicked capitalist disciplines, intensified slavery's racial character and launched half a century of headlong economic growth.

On the eve of the American Civil War, the Slave Power seemed invincible. The slaveholding elite entrenched their 'peculiar institution' in the fabric of the Union only to risk everything on secession. Nobody solicited the slaves' wishes until it became clear that, wherever they could, they were deserting the plantations and joining the Union forces.

Abolition radicals destroyed the Second Slavery and victory for the North also spelled defeat for slavery in Cuba and Brazil. But in each of these societies racial oppression was to be reconfigured by 'Black Codes', Jim Crow and toxic doctrines of racial destiny.

Slavery leaves an indelible mark on many Atlantic nations. The Reckoning charts the historic impact of slavery and anti-slavery, of black and white activists, of fugitive slaves, feminists, writers, clerics and soldiers. Notwithstanding much unfinished business, the anti-slavery struggle retains its capacity to illuminate and inspire.

About the author

Robin Blackburn is the critically acclaimed author of The Making of New World Slavery, The Overthrow of Colonial Slavery and The American Crucible. He is Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex and was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the New School in New York. He lives in London

Summary

How was slavery defeated in the Americas? The Reckoning is Robin Blackburn's compelling and authoritative account

Report

Tremendously impressive, the result of a lifetime of learning. Historical writing at its best Marcus Rediker, author of The Slave Ship

Product details

• Authors: Robin Blackburn, Blackburn Robin
• Publisher: Verso
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 07.11.2023
• EAN: 9781804293416
• ISBN: 978-1-80429-341-6
• No. of pages: 544
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Slavery, HISTORY / United States / 19th Century, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, United States of America, USA, Ethnic groups and multicultural studies, History of the Americas, Ethnic minorities & multicultural studies, Slavery & abolition of slavery, Black & Asian Studies, C 1700 To C 1800, Slavery and abolition of slavery, HISTORY / African American & Black, Later 18th century c 1750 to c 1799, Relating to African American / Black American people