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by Jeffrey B. Harris (Author)
American Slavery: A Historical Collection of Primary Sources is an essential compilation of documents that reveal the profound complexity and enduring impact of slavery in the United States. This carefully curated volume offers a window into the lives, struggles, and resistance of both the enslaved and those who shaped the fight for and against slavery. Through the words of lawmakers, activists, and ordinary people, these primary sources allow readers to experience pivotal moments in American history firsthand.
The collection includes some of the most significant documents from the colonial era to Reconstruction, including:
- John Woolman's Memoir - A Quaker abolitionist's powerful reflections on the moral evils of slavery.
- Lord Dunmore's Proclamation (1775) - The British governor's offer of freedom to enslaved people who joined the royal forces during the American Revolution.
- Benjamin Banneker's Letter to Thomas Jefferson (1791) - A brilliant African American mathematician's appeal to Jefferson for racial equality.
- The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 - A controversial law that codified the capture and return of escaped enslaved people.
- The Amistad Court Proceedings (1839-1841) - The legal battle over the fate of African captives who seized control of a slave ship.
- Oregon Exclusion Law (1844) - A law that prohibited Black people from living in Oregon, reflecting the racial tensions of westward expansion.
- Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation (1863) - The landmark declaration that began the formal process of freeing enslaved people in the Confederacy.
- Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15 (1865) - The post-war order that granted land to formerly enslaved families, later known as "40 acres and a mule."
- The 13th Amendment to the Constitution (1865) - The transformative amendment that officially abolished slavery in the United States.
- WPA Ex-Slave Narratives - Firsthand accounts collected in the 1930s from formerly enslaved people, preserving their personal experiences for future generations.
American Slavery: A Historical Collection of Primary Sources is an invaluable resource for students, historians, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of slavery and its lasting impact on the United States. These powerful documents tell the stories of resistance, legal battles, and the long fight for freedom, shedding light on a dark chapter in American history while highlighting the resilience and humanity of those who lived through it.
Through this collection, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the social, political, and legal forces that shaped the institution of slavery-and the struggle to abolish it-providing an indispensable perspective on America's path toward justice and equality.
