Unrequited Toil
Subtitle
A History of United States Slavery
Written as a narrative history of slavery within the United States, "Unrequited Toil" details how an institution that seemed to be disappearing at the end of the American Revolution rose to become the most contested and valuable economic interest in the nation by 1850. Calvin Schermerhorn charts changes in the family lives of enslaved Americans, exploring the broader processes of nation-building in the United States, growth and intensification of national and international markets, the institutionalization of chattel slavery and the growing relevance of race in the politics and society of the republic. In chapters organized chronologically, Schermerhorn argues that American economic development relied upon African-Americans' social reproduction while simultaneously destroying their intergenerational cultural continuity. He explores the personal narratives of enslaved people and develops themes such as politics, economics, labor, literature, rebellion and social conditions.
Bio
Calvin Schermerhorn grew up in southern Maryland and is a historian of American slavery, capitalism, and African-American inequality. A professor of history in Arizona State University's School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies, he has advanced degrees from the University of Virginia and Harvard Divinity School.
Praise for this book
In 'Unrequited Toil,' Calvin Schermerhorn offers a fresh study of slavery, synthesizing what we know about the institution thus far. From the cotton fields to coal mines, he tells the story of American slavery in many forms. His bold and direct language makes this history plain, palatable and personal. This book will be used for years to come as it offers the perfect overview of U.S. slavery for scholars and the general reader.
Daina Ramey Berry Author of "The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, from the Womb to the Grave, in the Building of a Nation"
"A distinguished historian of slavery and the slave trade, Calvin Schermerhorn's new synthesis on the history of slavery combines the latest historical literature in the field with his own considerable research adeptly. A highly usable book in courses on slavery and 19th-century American history."
Manisha Sinha Author of "The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition"
