Between Blood and Gold: The Debates over Compensation for Slavery in the Americas (European Expansion & Global Interaction, 10)

"Today, a century and a half after the abolition of slavery across most of the Americas, the idea of monetary reparations for former slaves and their descendants continues to be a controversial one. Lost among these debates, however, is the fact that such payments were widespread in the nineteenth century-except the "victims" were not slaves, but the slaveholders deprived of their labor. This landmark comparative study analyzes the debates over compensation within France and Great Britain. It lays out in unprecedented detail the philosophical, legal-political, and economic factors at play, establishing a powerful new model for understanding the aftermath of slavery in the Americas." --publisher's description Today, a century and a half after the abolition or slavery across most of the Americas, the idea of monetary reparations for former slaves and their descendants continues to be a controversial one. Lost among these debates, however, is the fact that such payments were widespread in the nineteenth century-except the "victims" were nor slaves, but the slaveholders deprived of their labor. This landmark comparative study analyzes the debates over compensation within France and Great Britain. It lays our in unprecedented detail the philosophical, legal-political, and economy factors at play, establishing a powerful new model for understanding the aftermath of slavery in the Americas. Book jacket Today, a century and a half after the abolition of slavery across most of the Americas, the idea of monetary reparations for former slaves and their descendants continues to be a controversial one. Lost among these debates, however, is the fact that such payments were widespread in the 19th century-except the "victims" were not slaves, but the slaveholders deprived of their labor. This landmark comparative study analyzes the debates over compensation within France and Great Britain. It lays out in unprecedented detail the philosophical, legal-political, and economic factors at play, establishing a powerful new model for understanding the aftermath of slavery in the Americas. CONTENTS TABLES PREFACE Introduction – COMPENSATION AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR ABOLITION Chapter 1 – COMPENSATION An Issue at the Heart of a Democratic Debate Chapter 2 – BETWEEN LEGALISM AND HUMANISM Compensation for Eminent Domain? Chapter 3 – COMPENSATION’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DIMENSION Compensation as Aid Chapter 4 – COMPENSATION’S POLITICAL SIDE A Means of Ensuring Colonial Cooperation EPILOGUE The Many-Faceted Issue of Compensation APPENDIX Positions of Members of Parliament Concerning the Principal Abolition Topics BIBLIOGRAPHY Index This landmark study analyzes the debates over compensation within France and Great Britain, establishing a compelling analysis of the Atlantic slave trade's aftermath.