47 pages 1 hour read

Edmund S. Morgan

American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1975

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund S. Morgan explores how America's Founding Fathers, particularly in Virginia, advocated for freedom while owning slaves. Morgan examines the unlikely development of slavery due to the failure to enslave Indigenous populations and indentured servants, analyzing the economic and social transition towards racial slavery. The book, divided into four parts, details the colony's early struggles, development, societal divisions, and eventual embrace of slavery influenced by racism and populist movements. The account highlights the intertwined relationship between freedom and slavery in colonial Virginia, culminating in the insights of Thomas Jefferson. Topics related to slavery, racism, and colonial exploitation are discussed in depth.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Edmund S. Morgan's American Slavery, American Freedom is praised for its thorough research and compelling argument linking the development of American slavery with the creation of American democracy. Critics appreciate its insightful analysis and engaging prose, though some find its thematic focus narrow. Overall, it is considered a significant contribution to historical scholarship.

Who should read this

Who Should Read American Slavery, American Freedom?

A reader who would enjoy American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund S. Morgan is likely an academic or history enthusiast interested in the intersection of racial and economic developments in Colonial America. Comparable to the audience of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States and Eric Foner's Reconstruction.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

1560L

Book Details

Topics

History: U.S.

Race / Racism

History: World

Genre

American Literature

Period

American Revolution