American Slavery American Freedom Summary

Words: 1180
Pages: 5
Open Document
Nick Melvin

Book Review 2

3/21/17

American Slavery, American Freedom

Morgan, Edmund S. American Slavery American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia. New York: WW Norton & Company, 1975.

Edmund Sears Morgan, an acclaimed author, historian, and former professor at Yale University, seeks to investigate the “marriage of slavery and freedom” (6). Morgan’s book American Slavery, American Freedom was written for an academic audience. Morgan explains that American Slavery, American Freedom is the story of how a group of Americans attained the American paradox, an effort to distinguish how freedom and slavery made their way to England’s first American colony and developed there together (6). Morgan argues that America emerged as a staunch …show more content…
Morgan mentions that white Virginians that were considered to be successful depended on slavery and a balanced labor force so that the planter nobility could maintain their hold on society. According to Morgan, by the third quarter it became apparent that the wealth of a country lay in the populace of its people, “labor was the source of wealth” (320). The plantation system made many Virginians wealthy and English merchant and Kings even richer (308). Morgan explains that it had one disadvantage. Every year it surged a vast amount of freemen into a society where the possibility for advancement was limited (308). Slavery became widely accepted because it balanced the labor force and made white Virginians and English merchant and kings wealthy. Virginians often took pity upon themselves for taking slaves into their families that had every reason to hate them …show more content…
Morgan does not simply imply that slavery is considered freedom, but slavery did allow Virginians the ability to live freely. Morgan admits that if we are understanding the disdain that racial contempt played in the history of Virginia we must first investigate not only the variations but also the similarity between servants and slaves in the plantation organization and the knowledge of those that ran it. Morgan’s paradox of the Virginia colony is ground breaking news in the understanding of American freedom and the founding of the United States. For instance, Morgan proves for the first time that racial slavery evolved into a necessary evil that kept the poor and African Americans in check and encouraged English perspective of equality and liberty for the nobility class (384-385). Morgan’s work permits modern day researchers a thoughtful account that proves the difficulty of slavery and its spot in the development of America. It helps Americans to perceive how racial injustice in America began, meanwhile it shows how our founding fathers held on to the principles of slavery which disputed what they were fighting for. Morgan explains that Americans used slave labor in order to eventually buy their
Show More

Related Documents: American Slavery American Freedom Summary

Emancipation Proclamation

piece of U.S. history from destruction, I would choose the Emancipation Proclamation. At the beginning of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln had always stated that the Union was fighting for its conservation. Although he had his own opinions on slavery, the Union would not be willing to fight if that was the goal of the war. As of July 1862, emancipation became an apparent necessity. Slaves were fleeing the Confederacy to join the Union army, and Lincoln saw this as a sign that something needed…

Words 1758 - Pages 8

What Is Hamilton's Role During The French Revolution

1773. 3. Hamilton’s essays against slavery - Hamilton believed slavery was immoral. Abolishing slavery wasn't his main goal in life, Hamilton played a large role in the development of belief that all men are created equal. 4. Lee battle at Monmouth - Lee was put in charge at the battle at Monmouth. He failed and allowed the british to seize the initiative. Lucky George Washington came and rallied the troops. Lee blew his shot. 5. Freedom for America and Freedom for France - France allied with America…

Words 945 - Pages 4

Manifest Destiny Research Paper

ideology that encouraged Americans to believe that they were divinely called to settle all of North America. This encouraged many to move westward, as they believed that it was their duty as white Americans. Although this ideology inspired Americans greatly, it allowed the justification of Native American removal. Before the Manifest Destiny movement, the Native Americans were living in rather fertile land. However, as that land was owned by Native Americans, white Americans pushed to take the land…

Words 825 - Pages 4

Essay on African Americans In History

Chapter 9 African americans : past and present Submitted by: Sashia Easter Chapter outline The definition of Racial Groups Ancestry of African Americans Slavery Concerns: Political, Social, and Cultural Legislation in in African Americans History Conclusion/ Summary Key Terms Citations/ References/ Resources In this chapter you will Learn How to define Racial Groups Experiences of African Americans Througout History Political, Social, and Cultural Concerns Legislation in African American History Constraining…

Words 1173 - Pages 5

An Analysis Of Amistad Essay

the international legal battle that followed their capture by a U.S. revenue cutter. It became a United States Supreme court case in 1841. The exposition of the movie was when the Africans revolted on the slave ship and were recaptured by the Americans. The setting is on a ship used to transport slaves. the protagonist, who is named Cinque, is introduced. The setting then changes to the United States where the other main characters are introduced, which include Rodger Baldwin (the lawyer for the…

Words 707 - Pages 3

Racism During The Reconstruction Era

the time being, this specific stage had a considerable impact on the country because it was known as the effort to give African Americans a voice, as well as reunify the nation after the tragic civil war. Although laws and compromises were put in place to pave a pathway to a better life for freedmen, they were ineffective. The Ku Klux Klan became known and African Americans lived in a constant state of fear, praying to escape from violence and murder. More than that, there were consecutive failures…

Words 507 - Pages 3

Dred Scott V. Sandford Case Study

Sandford (1857) Summary of Facts: Dred Scott v. Sandford was a landmark United States Supreme Court case on US labor law and constitutional law. Dred Scott, an enslaved man who had been taken by his owners to free states and territories, attempted to sue for his freedom. In the decision written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the court denied Scott's request. It held that black people, whose ancestors were imported and sold as slaves, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and therefore…

Words 516 - Pages 3

How Did Thomas Jefferson Influence On The Declaration Of Independence

When we think of the word “American” what do we think of? Do we think of freedom, of opportunity and Liberty? Do the words independence and Sovereignty come to mind? Because those are the words that define us, that makes us such a prodigious country, but how did we grow and become those four little words? “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one person to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate…

Words 812 - Pages 4

Rhetorical Analysis Of What To The Slaves Is The Fourth Of July

Author Fredrick Douglass, an African-American who escaped from slavery to become a leader of the abolitionist movement and antislavery writing. Summary The 4th of July, the date for national independence of United States forms the larger part of the document and post-independence vices like slavery and factors of that time that supported this vice. Significance At a time when slave trade was at its peak, Africans deprived of all their privileges like for example freedom of expression, movement, right to…

Words 629 - Pages 3

Slavery in American Literature Essay

Slavery in the United States was a form of unfree labor which existed as a legal institution in North America for more than a century before the founding of the United States in 1776, and continued mostly in the South until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865. Most slaves were black and were held by whites, although some Native Americans and free blacks also held slaves; there were a small number of white slaves as well. . Slavery spread to the areas…

Words 1583 - Pages 7