Who Abolished Slavery?: Slave Revolts and Abolitionism<br />A Debate with Joao Pedro Marques

The past 50 years have seen a wealth of information on slave resistance, but the ultimate goals of the insurgents remain open for debate. Historians suggest that slaves achieved their own freedom by resisting slavery, challenging the predominant argument that abolitionist pressure groups were the prime movers behind emancipation. Marques' arguments are discussed by a dozen experts, and he evaluates the degree to which they challenge or enhance his view.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Berghahn Books

The past fifty years have witnessed an abundance of information regarding slave resistance, encompassing a wide spectrum of actions, from solitary acts of defiance to grand uprisings. While numerous studies have been conducted on these rebellions, the ultimate objectives of the insurgents remain subject to ongoing debate. Recently, a growing number of historians have proposed a novel perspective, suggesting that slaves themselves played a pivotal role in securing their freedom through resistance against slavery. This notion challenges the prevailing notion that abolitionist pressure groups, parliamentarians, and the military forces of various slaveholding empires were the primary drivers behind emancipation.

Renowned historian Marques, in his authoritative work on slavery and abolition, takes a nuanced stance on this issue. He argues that, in most cases, it is challenging to establish a direct correlation between slave uprisings and the emancipation laws that were eventually approved in Western countries. Marques' insights are further explored and analyzed by a dozen of the foremost experts in this field in the subsequent chapters.

In the concluding chapter, Marques responds briefly to the comments and perspectives presented by his colleagues, assessing the extent to which they either challenge or reinforce his viewpoint. This comprehensive examination of slave resistance and its impact on emancipation offers valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted history of this era.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800730052