All for Liberty: The Charleston Workhouse Slave Rebellion of 1849

Jeff Strickland's book "All for Liberty" tells the story of Nicholas Kelly, an enslaved craftsman who led the Charleston Workhouse Slave Rebellion, the largest slave revolt in the antebellum American South. Nicholas risked his life to help thirty-six fellow enslaved people escape, and his rebellion was a decisive moment leading up to the secession of South Carolina from the United States in 1861. The book explores the parallels between race and incarceration in the nineteenth century and in modern America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Jeff Strickland vividly recounts the remarkable tale of Nicholas Kelly, an enslaved craftsman who played a pivotal role in the Charleston Workhouse Slave Rebellion, the largest slave uprising in the history of the antebellum American South. Accompanied by two accomplices, Nicholas armed himself with sledgehammers and pickaxes and bravely risked his life to assist thirty-six fellow enslaved individuals in their escape from the workhouse, where their enslavers had subjected them to torturous conditions. Despite the fame and recognition accorded to figures such as Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosser, and Denmark Vesey, Nicholas Kelly's crucial contribution often goes unnoticed. All for Liberty positions his rebellion as a significant turning point in the lead-up to South Carolina's secession from the United States in 1861. This captivating micro-history seamlessly weaves Nicholas's story with the backdrop of the Age of Atlantic Revolutions, while also exploring the profound parallels between race and incarceration in the nineteenth century and in modern America. In this unprecedented account, Nicholas Kelly's story is brought to life with unparalleled eloquence and depth, shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of American history.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108716918