The story of the Eric Canal is the story of industrial and economic progress between the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The Artificial River reveals the human dimension of the story of the Erie Canal. Carol Sheriff's extensive; innovative archival research shows the varied responses of ordinary people-farmers; businessmen; government officials; tourists; workers-to this major environmental; social; and cultural transformation in the early life of the Republic.Winner of Best Manuscript Award from the New York State Historical Association“The Artificial River is deeply researched; its arguments are both subtle and clear; and it is written with grace and an engagingly light touch. The book merits a wide readership.†―Paul Johnson; The Journal of American History
#1823305 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2008-09-01 2008-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x .88 x 6.10l; 1.10 #File Name: 0807859230352 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A valuable and readable look into a transitional period in abolitionism in AmericaBy D. D. LeDuThis is a valuable book that delves into the politics of slavery between the end of the transatlantic slave trade in 1808 and the Missouri Compromise (1820) - a period in which such politics is normally considered to be in abeyance. Author Mathew Mason makes it clear that the politics of slavery underwent a transformation; but did not disappear from the political scene.Slavery is a blight on the American experience; but one which should be considered in context. After all; it was one thing for a Britisher to campaign against British slavery that occurred far from the home island; or for a West Indies islander to do so while in the midst of slave discontent that threatened his existence. It was altogether another thing for an American who was closely exposed to slavery while maintaining effective; supreme control over those in slavery to become an abolitionist.I consider the fact that early America never truly countenanced slavery as a universally accepted; permanent feature of a "democratic" society to be admirable; a trait that illustrates the true goodliness of our government and people. That this belief led to a bloody civil war and the eventual end of slavery in some ways compensates for the evil of slavery's initial introduction and general acceptance.Slavery was a complicated institution; unreasonably simplified in today's discussions that divide everything into universal rights and wrongs. My own introduction to this fact started with a study that found that the sailors who manned slave ships suffered a slightly greater death rate than did the slaves they transported. The explanation (that slave ship owners valued the cargo greater than the sailors) was somehow unsettling to me.Another study showed that some 90% of all slaves were owned by fewer than 10% of the slave owners; and were largely engaged in large; impersonal enterprises that were overseen by slave drivers hired by absentee owners. On the other hand; most slave owners (who possessed fewer than 10% of the slaves) would have had close and personal contact with their slave-property. It can be safely assumed; I believe; that these facts would account for a prevailing opinion of slave owners that slaves were treated relatively paternalistically; whereas most slaves would have seen the situation much differently.Even where slaves were treated more humanely; both the slaves and their owners knew that the slaves were bound not just by chains; but by a system of threatened terror and night riders who closely controlled slave behavior and cruelly punished perceived impropriety. The owners could thus see their own personal behavior as benign; or even as commendable.All of these factors fed into the political (and moral)arguments over slavery. This book provides valuable insights into the discussion. It is well written and very readable. I highly recommend it.
