Slavery's Metropolis: Unfree Labor in New Orleans during the Age of Revolutions (Cambridge Studies on the African Diaspora)

New Orleans is an iconic city, which was once located at the crossroads of early America and the Atlantic World. New Orleans became a major American metropolis as its slave population exploded; in the early nineteenth century, slaves made up one third of the urban population. In contrast to our typical understanding of rural, localized, isolated bondage in the emergent Deep South, daily experiences of slavery in New Orleans were global, interconnected, and transient. Slavery's Metropolis uses slave circulations through New Orleans between 1791 and 1825 to map the social and cultural history of enslaved men and women and the rapidly shifting city, nation, and world in which they lived. Investigating emigration from the Caribbean to Louisiana during the Haitian Revolution, commodity flows across urban-rural divides, multiracial amusement places, the local jail, and freedom-seeking migrations to Trinidad following the War of 1812, it remaps the history of slavery in modern urban society. New Orleans Is An Iconic City, Which Was Once Located At The Crossroads Of Early America And The Atlantic World. New Orleans Became A Major American Metropolis As Its Slave Population Exploded; In The Early Nineteenth Century, Slaves Made Up One-third Of The Urban Population. In Contrast To Our Typical Understanding Of Rural, Localized, Isolated Bondage In The Emergent Deep South, Daily Experiences Of Slavery In New Orleans Were Global, Interconnected, And Transient. Slavery's Metropolis Uses Slave Circulations Through New Orleans Between 1791 And 1825 To Map The Social And Cultural History Of Enslaved Men And Women And The Rapidly Shifting City, Nation, And World In Which They Lived. Investigating Emigration From The Caribbean To Louisiana During The Haitian Revolution, Commodity Flows Across Urban-rural Divides, Multiracial Amusement Places, The Local Jail, And Freedom-seeking Migrations To Trinidad Following The War Of 1812, It Remaps The History Of Slavery In Modern Urban Society-- This Book Is About Everyday Life Across Lines Of Empire, Color, Race, And Status, But It Also Offers A Novel Analysis Of A Critical Epoch In World History. In A Little Over Three Decades, The United States Went From A Collection Of British Colonies To A Sovereign And Imperialistic Nation Among Nations. The Haitian Revolution Became A Model For Black Freedom And An Omen For The Slaveholding Americas-- Revolutionary Spaces -- Market Spaces -- Neighborhood Spaces -- Penal Spaces -- Atlantic Spaces. Rashauna Johnson (dartmouth College). Includes Bibliographical References (pages 209-229) And Index. "New Orleans is an iconic city, which was once located at the crossroads of early America and the Atlantic World. New Orleans became a major American metropolis as its slave population exploded; in the early nineteenth century, slaves made up one-third of the urban population. In contrast to our typical understanding of rural, localized, isolated bondage in the emergent Deep South, daily experiences of slavery in New Orleans were global, interconnected, and transient. Slavery's Metropolis uses slave circulations through New Orleans between 1791 and 1825 to map the social and cultural history of enslaved men and women and the rapidly shifting city, nation, and world in which they lived. Investigating emigration from the Caribbean to Louisiana during the Haitian Revolution, commodity flows across urban-rural divides, multiracial amusement places, the local jail, and freedom-seeking migrations to Trinidad following the War of 1812, it remaps the history of slavery in modern urban society"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half-title page 3 Series page 5 Title page 7 Copyright page 8 Dedication 9 Contents 11 List of Figures 12 List of Maps 13 Preface: “Drowned in the blood of its citizens” 15 Acknowledgments 19 List of Abbreviations 23 Introduction: Slave Spaces 25 1 Revolutionary Spaces 48 2 Market Spaces 79 3 Neighborhood Spaces 109 4 Penal Spaces 149 5 Atlantic Spaces 186 Conclusion: Modern Spaces 227 Selected Bibliography 233 Index 255