University; Court; and Slave reveals long-forgotten connections between pre-Civil War southern universities and slavery. Universities and their faculty owned people-sometimes dozens of people-and profited from their labor while many slaves endured physical abuse on campuses. The profits of enslaved labor helped pay for education; and faculty and students at times actively promoted the institution. They wrote about the history of slavery; argued for its central role in the southern economy; and developed a political theory that justified slavery. The university faculty spoke a common language of economic utility; history; and philosophy with those who made the laws for the southern states. Their extensive writing promoting slavery helps us understand how southern politicians and judges thought about the practice.As Alfred L. Brophy shows; southern universities fought the emancipation movement for economic reasons; but used history; philosophy; and law in an attempt to justify their position. Indeed; as the antislavery movement gained momentum; southern academics and their allies in the courts became bolder in their claims. Some went so far as to say that slavery was supported by natural law. The combination of economic reasoning and historical precedent helped shape a southern; proslavery jurisprudence. Following Lincoln's November 1860 election; southern academics joined politicians; judges; lawyers; and other leaders in arguing that their economy and society was threatened. Southern jurisprudence led them to believe that any threats to slavery and property justified secession. Bolstered by the courts; academics took their case to the southern public-and ultimately to the battlefield-to defend slavery. A path-breaking and deeply researched history of southern universities' investment in and defense of slavery; University; Court; and Slave will fundamentally transform our understanding of the institutional foundations of pro-slavery thought.
#371803 in Books White G Edward 2016-03-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.70 x 2.10 x 9.40l; .0 #File Name: 0199930988680 pagesLaw in American History Volume II From Reconstruction Through the 1920s
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy james p. whitters IIIsuperb synthesis of American legal history between the end of the Civil War and the 1920s.1 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy John E. BanksIt provides new insights in legal history.1 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Anthony SilvaIn excellent condition reads well. I have both Vol.1 and 2.
