Why read The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution, 1770-1823?

Book cover of The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution, 1770-1823

Book description

The author explores the international impact and social significance of antislavery thought in a critical era of political and industrial revolution. He examines the implications and historical consequences of challenging the long-accepted institution of slavery. The study not only provides a comparative account of early antislavery movements, but also uses…

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American history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution, 1770-1823 as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

David Chanoff

Author

The American Revolution’s conflict between its espousal of democratic ideals on the one hand and its embrace of slavery on the other created a debate about the country’s underlying purpose and intention. David Brion Davis was the dean of historians writing about slavery.

He addresses that question in depth here, including a portrayal of Thomas Jefferson. For me, this book stimulated a whole different way of thinking about our country’s origins and subsequent history.

From David's list on heroes who stopped trans-Atlantic slavery.