Slavery in North America

Zotero Library:

https://www.zotero.org/groups/5415271/macsblog/items/7DP3JXWQ/item-list

Source 1: Book 

Rose, Willie Lee Nichols, Ed. A documentary history of slavery in North America. University of Georgia Press, 1999.

This book sheds light on the different facets of slavery in North America. It comprises of more than 100 excerpts from personal accounts, letters, and legal documents. It has detailed experiences of slaves over two centuries including the daily interactions that slaves had with their masters. It includes information on the origin of slavery and its existence through the antebellum era. This book’s main argument is about the impact that slavery had on the slaves, their families, and their generations. 

Source 2: Journal Article

Morgan, Philip D. "Origins of American Slavery." OAH Magazine of History 19, no. 4 (2005): 51-56.

In this journal, slavery, described as “the peculiar institution” is explained to have been prevalent for hundreds of years. Almost every society has at some point encountered slavery except a few such as the Australian Aboriginals. It is vital to understand slavery in America in global context as it helps to comprehensively understand the history of slavery. This journal has explored the important aspects of North American slavery. It has highlighted the distinctiveness as well as the evolution of slavery. It creates an argument regarding the balance between continuities and changes in slavery over time. 

Source 3: Primary Source (From library of congress)

Blackburn, R. (1988). The overthrow of colonial slavery, 1776-1848. Verso.

This is a book that was originally published by Robin Blackburn in the year 1988. The book provides historical aspects of slavery and the complexity of this revolutionary age. For instance, the book explains how the end to colonial rule led to the flourishing of slavery. It offers information on what led to the abolition of colonial rule and the consequent impacts of slavery in North America. By reading this book, one can gain clear insight into the lives of those who lived during this period in North America. 

Source 4: Primary Source (From library of congress)

Harriet A. Jacobs (Harriet Ann), 1813-1897 and Lydia Maria Francis Child, 1802-1880 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Written by Herself Boston: Published for the Author, 1861, c1860.

This source is about the narrative of the antebellum slave who narrates her experience as a slave. It focuses on the problems that slaves faced under their masters such as exploitation of the women and the stigma that came with trying to resist the abuse. Through the author’s narrative, she explains the importance of family ties and the challenges that come from being away from loves ones. There is a lot to learn from this source including the benefits of having family as well as all the good things that comes with freedom. 

Source 5: Primary Source (From American Historical Association)

Northup, Solomon. "Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New York, Kidnapped In Washington City in 1841 and Rescued in 1853, From a Cotton Plantation... Red River in Louisiana.(English Edition) Format Kindle." (1855).

This source is a memoir written by the author himself regarding his encounters as a slave. It is more about the harrowing ordeal that individuals faced after they were kidnapped and sold into slavery. This book has provided accurate information on the actual brutal treatment of the African-American slaves by their masters. After reading this book, one gets to learn the actual experiences of the slaves. Because of the accuracy of the information, one gets to understand how the slaves were tortured and suffered in the hands of their masters. 

Reflection 

Reading these sources, I learned about the complex nature of slavery in North America. These sources gave me the opportunity to access comprehensive view of slavery based on personal experiences of some of the authors. For example, the book by Jacobs stands out because it offers a candid portrayal of sexual abuse and its focus on motherhood. This has shed light on the unique struggles faced by enslaved women. Besides, I have understood slavery within a global historical perspective. Through these sources I have learned the importance of balancing continuities and changes over time while acknowledging the limitations of space in historical narratives.

In regards to the reliability of the sources selected for this paper, I have understood the importance of critically evaluating and corroborating information found online. Even though primary sources such as personal narratives tend to have first-hand information, they may have some biases existing within the texts. Other primary sources may possibly have selective storytelling. The same can be said for secondary sources as well as journals. Therefore, it is crucial to cross-reference information from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness in historical research. Finally, verifying the credibility of online sources through reputable repositories like the Library of Congress or academic associations helps ensure reliability and accuracy in historical research.