The single best short survey in America, now es a New Preface and AfterwardIn terms of accessibility and comprehensive coverage, Kolchin’s. Peter Kolchin’s American Slavery, first published in in the widely acclaimed American Century Series edited by Eric Foner, is a useful and mas terly survey. peter kolchin’s american slavery: chapters and the economies of the british colonies that would eventually become the united states were not.

Kolchin covers the state of historians’ understanding of slavery in America both chronologically and by topic e. Kolchin cut his teeth on serfdom in Russia and knows a thing or two about writing about involuntary servitude. By the antebellum period, Kolchin presents a culture that is almost paranoid.

It remains the best book to introduce a subject of profound and lasting importance, one that lies at the center of American history.

During this period, some Americans mostly Quakers began to question the institution on moral grounds. Kolchin’s attempts at comparative history his Unfree Labor compares Russian serfdom to American slavery seem to fall flat, but I suppose my own aversion to the stuff it’s always done in such a ham-handed way: The American Revolution brought a number of changes in the system of slavery. His purpose is to have readers visualize all the struggles and hardships these individuals faced throughout their lives.

He continually includes asides that discuss historiographical trends and debates that have occurred in the field, pointing to key historians and works for the various positions before adding his own voice. Kolchin covers this complex topic in vivid yet concise detail over 3 centuries.

Ripping 12 million people from Africa was horrendous. I have read much about the topic and found the book sweeping and not capturing man of the nuances in histories of specific population in communities.

A very interesting read. I’m being nitpicky, though. Jan 10, Yehudith Valentine rated it really liked it. A very readable and well paced account of a ajerican I’m still trying to get my head around – having now been close to a the source and b the destination.

If you’re looking for a good overview of American slavery, this is the book to go to. The single best short survey in America, now updated. Gives a broad outline of Really interesting and informative read on skavery history of slavery in the US.

Sep 29, Jim rated it it was amazing Shelves: This novel is truly tremendous. Much of what we know, or think we know, dates from the “antebellum” period of roughlywhen the planters began a reactionary movement that masked their economic interests behind racist and paternalistic apologetics for the desirability of slavery for both master and slave.

Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert. Perhaps the only improvement would have been the addition of small inter-chapter close-ups of a particular stories, personalities, circumstances, to offset the sweeping narrative format. A good interpretive history of the subject that can be appreciated by undergraduates i.

Would strongly suggest this book to anyone with an interest in history. Mar klochin, Nick Black rated it really liked it. Sep 17, Sean Sullivan rated it liked it Shelves: Geography is a key factor in Kolchin’s conception of American slavery.

American Slavery: by Peter Kolchin

To see what your friends thought of this book, please alavery up. View all 3 comments. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who loves learning about slavery. This broader contextualization — examining slavery in a global context — is particularly useful. For students new to the subject, or scholars seeking a useful overview to the field, this book is nearly perfect.

I highly recommend it for any scholar for two reasons. This resulted in an intense relationship between slaves and slave owners and a rather distinctive slave society that was economically dependent on slavery, even though only a small number of whites directly benefited from the arrangement. Kolchin does cover the ways that regions become for distinct.

Gives a broad outline of the history of slavery not only in Antebellum period, but also in earlier colonial period, which is not something I have heard too much about. I did like the comparative view, since there were many stages of america around the globe. This is a careful if occasionally dry one-volume overview of the “peculiar institution.

Questions?

I enjoyed this book i This a top notch survey of the many aspects of American slavery. I think it filled in some missing pieces for me but did not cover much about gender.

Focuses both on the slaves and on the masters and what they thought. I read it for research and I did learn a few things I didn’t know and discovered some better resources in the bibliography, but it was disturbing kolchun read a book about slavery in America from americaan white supremacist perspective–and I am certain the author didn’t intend that.

It’s extremely educational, but definitely not written to entertain. The weakness of the book was mainly not enough explicit facts about what happened to the slaves. But as amercan broad overview of the controversies, understandings and knowledge gaps of contemporary historical analysis of American slavery, it’s a great place to start. Sep 29, AskHistorians added it Shelves: That would greatly enhance the book, especially for folks kolchih used to reading historical overviews like this.

The colonial era was a time when slavery was stressed in many colonies and the revolution also pushed many questions.

American Slavery, 1619-1877

Second, it delves into the major historiographical debates on slavery in concise kllchin clear ways, which is great for comps. I read the book because I took a class in a life long learning institute. And he does incorporate enough specific examples to make for pretty easy reading.