This is an original survey of the economic and social history of slavery of the Afro-American experience in Latin America and the Caribbean. The focus of the book is on the Portuguese; Spanish; and French-speaking regions of continental America and the Caribbean. It analyzes the latest research on urban and rural slavery and on the African and Afro-American experience under these regimes. It approaches these themes both historically and structurally. The historical section provides a detailed analysis of the evolution of slavery and forced labor systems in Europe; Africa; and America. The second half of the book looks at the type of life and culture which the salves experienced in these American regimes.The first part of the book describes the growth of the plantation and mining economies that absorbed African slave labor; how that labor was used; and how the changing international economic conditions affected the local use and distribution of the slave labor force. Particular emphasis is given to the evolution of the sugar plantation economy; which was the single largest user of African slave labor and which was established in almost all of the Latin American colonies.Once establishing the economic context in which slave labor was applied; the book shifts focus to the Africans and Afro-Americans themselves as they passed through this slave regime. The first part deals with the demographic history of the slaves; including their experience in the Atlantic slave trade and their expectations of life in the New World. The next part deals with the attempts of the African and American born slaves to create a viable and autonomous culture. This includes their adaptation of European languages; religions; and even kinship systems to their own needs. It also examines systems of cooptation and accommodation to the slave regime; as well as the type and intensity of slave resistances and rebellions.A separate chapter is devoted to the important and different role of the free colored under slavery in the various colonies. The unique importance of the Brazilian free labor class is stressed; just as is the very unusual mobility experienced by the free colored in the French West Indies.The final chapter deals with the differing history of total emancipation and how ex-slaves adjusted to free conditions in the post-abolition periods of their respective societies. The patterns of post-emancipation integration are studied along with the questions of the relative success of the ex-slaves in obtaining control over land and escape from the old plantation regimes.
#374660 in Books 2004-10-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.70 x 1.60 x 8.70l; 1.77 #File Name: 0195176006576 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Events behind the eventsBy Larry RichardsonLet me just state up front that I am kind of a nut about anything dealing with our revolution. This book is one of the best I've ever read in looking into what was behind all the events that brought our colony to the brink of war and beyond. Ferling supplies a tremendous amount of detailed background information beginning with the era of the French Indian war. His analysis of the politics and men of the revolutionary period is extremely detailed and any reader will discover details that you learn for the first time. This is a very well researched book; and yet it's written in a style that is very readable. For those just beginning a study of the revolution and the people and events of the time; this book might be TOO detailed. But for those of us that can't get enough; this book is tremendously informative and at the same time; a most interesting read.14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. A Good Place to StartBy DebraFerling is always a pleasure to read. I also recommend his "Almost A Miracle". This work is a great place to begin for an overview of this period; especially Ferling's account of the events leading up to the Revolution. However; it seems to me that Ferling generalizes too much in the years after the Constitution.The portrait Ferling paints is one of the non-elite Anti-Federalists vs. the elite Federalists. However; many Anti-Federalists came from the elite whose power within states was threatened by stronger central government. The Clinton-Livingston machine that ran New York and the planter elite that controlled Virginia are examples. This over-simplification is extended into his discussion of Federalists vs. Republicans. For example the small farmers of Shay's rebellion benefitted from the Federal assumption of state debts and became enduring Federalists. Also; many of the "new men" Ferling speaks of; including the self-made Hamilton; were Federalists. The geographical split of the parties is not explained. By 1800; Federalists were strong in New England; but becoming virtually non-existent in the South. It is hard to believe that New England was composed of elitists and left-over Tories; while the South was the home of egalitarians.I agree with Ferling's statement in his preface that people rarely adopt ideologies that conflict with their personal interests. This was no less true of Anti-federalists and Republicans; though Ferling shows this connection more clearly with their opponents. It is good to remember that the yeomen farmers of Virginia; whom Jefferson praises as the foundation of republicanism; were dependant on and deferential to wealthy planters like Jefferson making it safe for him to embrace them. And the Southern Republicans' resistance to central government dovetailed nicely with the preservation of their peculiar institution; slavery. By working to insure a weak central government that would not interfere in (or tax) property rights in land or slaves; Republicans made sure that the people would not have the means to threaten their privileged status.I would strongly recommend to anyone who wishes to more fully understand the period from 1788 to 1800 to read Elkins and McKitrick's "The Age of Federalism". It is a thorough; well-written and detailed account that will provide many of the nuances that Ferling leaves out. For an excellent treatment of the underpinnings of 18th century political economy read Drew McCoy's "Elusive Republic". Another good read is Elizabeth Dunn's "Dominion of Memories" which; in a small volume; packs a lot of information on Virginia's planter elite; their obsession with protecting a pastoral utopia that never really existed and the decline of the Old Dominion. The time period for this work is largely 19th century; however it does show the background of Republican thinking and how that ideology played out in Virginia. Joseph Ellis' "American Sphinx" gives a less hagiographic (and fuller) view of Jefferson.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A Good Introduction to and Political History of the Founding of the United StatesBy Marvin AberleJohn Ferling ambitiously sets out in this book to cover an extensive and rich period of American history. As his chapter titles suggest; the period covered spans from 1754 to 1801. I chose this book instead of Robert Middlekauff's Glorious Cause as an introduction to America's founding because it goes beyond the ratification of the Constitution (where Glorious Cause ends) to cover the contest between Federalists and Republicans and the presidencies of Washington and Adams. I wanted a comprehensive survey of the period and Ferling certainly delivered. The book does; however; focus primarily on the political evolution of the period and skims the military history.So very much happened in the time between 1754 and 1801; that it is impossible to thoroughly address every event and happening. Ferling has condensed the period into merely 500 pages; something that could take well over 2000 pages to thoroughly cover. But he has focused in on the important events and processes for his book to adequately serve as an introduction to the beginnings of the United States. I especially enjoyed; as many of the other reviewers have; the interesting portraits he paints of the most important characters: George Washington; Samuel Adams; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; and Alexander Hamilton. These 4- to 8-page descriptions can serve as jump-off points to pursue these characters in more depth in other works.A Leap in the Dark is an excellent introduction to the American Revolution; the creation of the Constitution; and the first two American presidencies. If; however; you are already familiar with the general course of events and personalities of the period; it would be better to seek out works more narrowly focused.
