Capitalism and Slavery

Description

Slavery helped finance the Industrial Revolution in England. Plantation owners, shipbuilders, and merchants connected with the slave trade accumulated vast fortunes that established banks and heavy industry in Europe and expanded the reach of capitalism worldwide. Eric Williams advanced these powerful ideas in Capitalism and Slavery, published in 1944. Years ahead of its time, his profound critique became the foundation for studies of imperialism and economic development. Binding an economic view of history with strong moral argument, Williams's study of the role of slavery in financing the Industrial Revolution refuted traditional ideas of economic and moral progress and firmly established the centrality of the African slave trade in European economic development. He also showed that mature industrial capitalism in turn helped destroy the slave system. Establishing the exploitation of commercial capitalism and its link to racial attitudes, Williams employed a historicist vision that set the tone for future studies. William A. Darity Jr.'s new foreword highlights Williams's insights for a new generation of readers, and Colin Palmer's introduction assesses the lasting impact of Williams's groundbreaking work and analyzes the heated scholarly debates it generated when it first appeared. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Introduction 1 ■ The Origin of Negro Slavery 2 ■ The Development of the Negro Slave Trade 3 ■ British Commerce and the Triangular Trade 4 ■ The West India Interest 5 ■ British Industry and the Triangular Trade 6 ■ The American Revolution 7 ■ The Development of British Capitalism, 1783–1833 8 ■ The New Industrial Order 9 ■ British Capitalism and the West Indies 10 ■ The Commercial Part of the Nation and Slavery 11 ■ The “Saints” and Slavery 12 ■ The Slaves and Slavery 13 ■ Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W