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.

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.

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.

Informative / Contemplative / Dark / Challenging / Mysterious

- Edmund S. Morgan wrote American Slavery, American Freedom as part of his effort to understand the paradox of liberty and slavery coexisting during the birth of the United States.
- Morgan's work was awarded the Francis Parkman Prize in 1976, recognizing it as an exemplary piece of historical literature.

**Nathaniel Bacon**  
A 29-year-old Englishman who became a leader in the colony and spearheaded Bacon’s Rebellion, driven by his strong antipathy toward Indians and the wealthy.

**Sir William Berkeley**  
The governor of Virginia known for his loyalty to the king, promotion of Virginia's planters, and his leadership during Bacon’s Rebellion, while trying to maintain peaceful relations with the Indians.

**Sir Francis Drake**  
An English explorer and pirate who collaborated with the Cimarron people against the Spanish, with significant early interactions involving freed Indians and Africans.

**Richard Hakluyt**  
A clergyman famous for writing "The Principal Navigations of the English Nation," promoting English exploration and imperialism with notions of global freedom.

**Thomas Jefferson**  
A seminal Virginia figure, Founding Father, and author of the Declaration of Independence, whose writings illustrated the convergence of ideas on freedom and slavery.

**Edmund S. Morgan**  
The author and historian who wrote about American history, recognized for his scholarship and contributions to understanding American freedom and slavery.

**Sir Walter Raleigh**  
An English explorer who initiated the first English settlement at Roanoke and is associated with naming Virginia, while reflecting early English views on Indians and Africans.

**John Smith**  
A young adventurer and leader in early colonial Virginia, experienced in survival and communication with Indians, advocating their forced integration into colonial life.

Edmund S. Morgan

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American Slavery, American Freedom Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 1: “The Promised Land”

Chapters 1-6

American Slavery, American Freedom Chapters 1-6 Summary & Analysis

Book 2: “The New Deal”

Chapters 7-10

American Slavery, American Freedom Chapters 7-10 Summary & Analysis

Book 3: “The Volatile Society”

Chapters 11-14

American Slavery, American Freedom Chapters 11-14 Summary & Analysis

Book 4: “Slavery and Freedom”

Chapters 15-16

American Slavery, American Freedom Chapters 15-16 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 17-18

American Slavery, American Freedom Chapters 17-18 Summary & Analysis

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American Slavery, American Freedom Essay Topics

American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia

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