Between Slavery and Capitalism : The Legacy of Emancipation in the American South

An in-depth examination of the economic and social transition from slavery to capitalism during Reconstruction At the center of the upheavals brought by emancipation in the American South was the economic and social transition from slavery to modern capitalism. In Between Slavery and Capitalism , Martin Ruef examines how this institutional change affected individuals, organizations, and communities in the late nineteenth century, as blacks and whites alike learned to navigate the shoals between two different economic worlds. Analyzing trajectories among average Southerners, this is perhaps the most extensive sociological treatment of the transition from slavery since W.E.B. Du Bois's Black Reconstruction in America. In the aftermath of the Civil War, uncertainty was a pervasive feature of life in the South, affecting the economic behavior and social status of former slaves, Freedmen's Bureau agents, planters, merchants, and politicians, among others. Emancipation brought fundamental questions: How should emancipated slaves be reimbursed in wage contracts? What occupations and class positions would be open to blacks and whites? What forms of agricultural tenure could persist? And what paths to economic growth would be viable? To understand the escalating uncertainty of the postbellum era, Ruef draws on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data, including several thousand interviews with former slaves, letters, labor contracts, memoirs, survey responses, census records, and credit reports. Through a resolutely comparative approach, Between Slavery and Capitalism identifies profound changes between the economic institutions of the Old and New South and sheds new light on how the legacy of emancipation continues to affect political discourse and race and class relations today. At The Center Of The Upheavals Brought By Emancipation In The American South Was The Economic And Social Transition From Slavery To Modern Capitalism. In Between Slavery And Capitalism, Martin Ruef Examines How This Institutional Change Affected Individuals, Organizations, And Communities In The Late Nineteenth Century, As Blacks And Whites Alike Learned To Navigate The Shoals Between Two Different Economic Worlds... In The Aftermath Of The Civil War, Uncertainty Was A Pervasive Feature Of Life In The South, Affecting The Economic Behavior And Social Status Of Former Slaves, Freedmen's Bureau Agents, Planters, Merchants, And Politicians, Among Others. Emancipation Brought Fundamental Questions: How Should Emancipated Slaves Be Reimbursed In Wage Contracts? What Occupations And Class Positions Would Be Open To Blacks And Whites? What Forms Of Agricultural Tenure Could Persist? And What Paths To Economic Growth Would Be Viable? To Understand The Escalating Uncertainty Of The Postbellum Era, Ruef Draws On A Wide Range Of Qualitative And Quantitative Data, Including Several Thousand Interviews With Former Slaves, Letters, Labor Contracts, Memoirs, Survey Responses, Census Records, And Credit Reports. Through A Resolutely Comparative Approach, Between Slavery And Capitalism Identifies Profound Changes Between The Economic Institutions Of The Old And New South And Sheds New Light On How The Legacy Of Emancipation Continues To Affect Political Discourse And Race And Class Relations Today.--publisher's Web Site. Institutional Transformation And Uncertainty -- Constructing A Free Labor Market -- Status Attainment Among Emancipated Slaves -- Class Structure In The Old And New South -- The Demise Of The Plantation -- Credit And Trade In The New South -- Paths To Development -- Emancipation In Comparative Perspective -- Appendix A. Data Sources And Sampling -- Appendix B. Idiosyncrasy. Martin Ruef. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 253-275) And Index. In the aftermath of the Civil War, uncertainty was a pervasive feature of life in the South, affecting the economic behavior and social status of former slaves, Freedmen Bureau agents, planters, merchants, and politicians, among others. Emancipation brought fundamental questions: How should emancipated slaves be reimbursed in wage contracts? What occupations and class positions would be open to blacks and whites? What forms of agricultural tenure could persist? And what paths to economic growth would be viable? To understand the escalating uncertainty of the postbellum era, Ruef draws on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data, including several thousand interviews with former slaves, letters, labor contracts, memoirs, survey responses, Census records, and credit reports. At the center of the upheavals brought by emancipation in the American South was the economic and social transition from slavery to modern capitalism. InBetween Slavery and Capitalism, Martin Ruef examines how this institutional change affected individuals, organizations, and communities in the late nineteenth century, as blacks and whites alike learned to navigate the shoals between two different economic worlds. Analyzing trajectories among average Southerners, this is perhaps the most extensive sociological treatment of the transition from slavery since W.E.B. DuBois'sBlack Reconstruction in America. Through a resolutely comparative approach, Between Slavery and Capitalism identifies profound changes between the economic institutions of the Old and New South and sheds new light on how the legacy of emancipation continues to affect political discourse and race and class relations today "At the center of the upheavals brought by emancipation in the American South was the economic and social transition from slavery to modern capitalism. In Between Slavery and Capitalism, Martin Ruef examines how this institutional change affected individuals, organizations, and communities in the late nineteenth century, as blacks and whites alike learned to navigate the shoals between two different economic worlds... In the aftermath of the Civil War, uncertainty was a pervasive feature of life in the South, affecting the economic behavior and social status of former slaves, Freedmen's Bureau agents, planters, merchants, and politicians, among others. Emancipation brought fundamental questions: How should emancipated slaves be reimbursed in wage contracts? What occupations and class positions would be open to blacks and whites? What forms of agricultural tenure could persist? And what paths to economic growth would be viable? To understand the escalating uncertainty of the postbellum era, Ruef draws on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data, including several thousand interviews with former slaves, letters, labor contracts, memoirs, survey responses, census records, and credit reports. Through a resolutely comparative approach, Between Slavery and Capitalism identifies profound changes between the economic institutions of the Old and New South and sheds new light on how the legacy of emancipation continues to affect political discourse and race and class relations today."--Rabat de la jaquette At the center of the upheavals brought by emancipation in the American South was the economic and social transition from slavery to modern capitalism. This book examines how this institutional change affected individuals, organizations, and communities in the late nineteenth century, as blacks and whites alike learned to navigate the shoals between two different economic worlds. In the aftermath of the Civil War, uncertainty was a pervasive feature of life in the South, affecting the economic behavior and social status of former slaves, Freedmen's Bureau agents, planters, merchants, and politicians, among others. Emancipation brought fundamental questions: How should emancipated slaves be reimbursed in wage contracts? What occupations and class positions would be open to blacks and whites? What forms of agricultural tenure could persist? And what paths to economic growth would be viable? To understand the escalating uncertainty of the postbellum era, the book draws on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data, including several thousand interviews with former slaves, letters, labor contracts, memoirs, survey responses, census records, and credit reports. The book identifies profound changes between the economic institutions of the Old and New South and sheds new light on how the legacy of emancipation continues to affect political discourse and race and class relations today. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 List of Tables 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 16 1. Institutional Transformation and Uncertainty 20 2. Constructing a Free Labor Market 40 3. Status Attainment among Emancipated Slaves 69 4. Class Structure in the Old and New South 94 5. The Demise of the Plantation 122 6. Credit and Trade in the New South 150 7. Paths to Development 175 8. Emancipation in Comparative Perspective 200 Appendix A. Data Sources and Sam 214 Appendix B. Idiosyncrasy 222 Notes 228 References 272 Index 296 978–0-691–16277–5