The Reckoning: From the Second Slavery to Abolition, 1776-1888

The Age of Revolution (1776-1848) destroyed the main slave regimes of the Caribbean, but a Second Slavery surged in the US South, Cuba, and Brazil, powered by demand for plantation produce and a system of financial credit. By 1860, more than 6 million captives of African descent toiled to produce the cotton, sugar, and coffee craved by global consumers. The Slave Power seemed invincible, but abolition radicals destroyed it, and victory for the North also spelled defeat for slavery in Cuba and Brazil. The Reckoning charts the historic impact of slavery and anti-slavery, of black and white activists, fugitive slaves, feminists, writers, clerics, and soldiers, and retains its capacity to illuminate and inspire.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2024
Publisher: Verso Books

The Age of Revolution (1776-1848) brought about the demise of the primary slave regimes in the Caribbean, but a Second Slavery emerged in the US South, Cuba, and Brazil, fueled by the demand for plantation produce and a financial credit system that capitalized on the value of enslaved individuals. By 1860, over 6 million captives of African descent were toiling tirelessly to produce the cotton, sugar, and coffee that were sought after by global consumers. This Second Slavery adopted capitalist principles, heightened the racial dimension of slavery, and set the stage for a half-century of economic prosperity.

As the American Civil War approached, the Slave Power appeared invincible, with the slaveholding elite firmly entrenching their peculiar institution within the Union. However, it was only when it became apparent that slaves were deserting plantations and joining the Union forces that their wishes began to be considered. Abolition radicals played a pivotal role in dismantling the Second Slavery, resulting in a victory for the North that also signaled the end of slavery in Cuba and Brazil. Nevertheless, racial oppression would be reconfigured in these societies through the implementation of Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and toxic doctrines of racial destiny.

Slavery has left a lasting impact on numerous Atlantic nations. The Reckoning explores the historical significance of slavery and anti-slavery, the actions of black and white activists, fugitive slaves, feminists, writers, clerics, and soldiers. Despite the ongoing challenges, the anti-slavery struggle continues to hold the power to enlighten and inspire.

Weight: 722g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804293416