The Fraternal Atlantic, 1770-1930: Race, Revolution, and Transnationalism in the Worlds of Freemasonry

This book explores Freemasonry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the Atlantic world, highlighting its role as a critical component of Atlantic history. It uses six case studies to address themes such as its role in revolutionary movements, intersections with racism, slavery, and anti-slavery, appeal for diasporic groups, and limits of fraternal brotherhood in addressing modernity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate tapestry of Freemasonry during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries within the vast Atlantic world. By harnessing a wealth of fresh empirical evidence, the chapters establish fraternalism as a vital and indispensable component of the historical narrative. Fraternalism emerged as a strategic response to the disruptions caused by imperialism, massive migrations, and the socio-political upheavals of revolutions. Spanning from confraternities to Masonic lodges to friendly societies, these organizations provided individuals with invaluable opportunities to forge connections across vast and geographically dispersed regions. Through the lens of six compelling case studies, the contributors to this volume explore a diverse range of themes related to fraternal organizations. These include their pivotal role in revolutionary movements, their intricate intersections with the conflicting histories of racism, slavery, and anti-slavery, their appeal to diasporic groups across the Atlantic world, such as revolutionary refugees, European immigrants in North America, and members of the Jewish diaspora, as well as the limitations of fraternal brotherhood in grappling with the challenges of modernity.

The chapters in this book originally appeared as a special issue of Atlantic Studies: Global Currents, further emphasizing their significance and impact on the field of historical inquiry.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367654085