The first two centuries of slavery in North America
The first two centuries of slavery in North America is a book written by Ira Berlin in 1998. The book talks about different forms of slavery during the period and how it changed gradually. The book covers the topic of slavery and how slavery was conducted in North America during the seventeenth century. The book aims to educate readers on the state of slavery before the nineteenth century. Since most Americans associate slavery with working in cotton plantation, the Deep South, and the African-American church, the book aims to expand the reader’s mind in understanding slavery before the nineteenth century. This work will analyze the book Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North America and see how slavery took place during the time.
The book talks about the history of slaves on American soil. Many of the slaves did not work in the cotton plantations, as seen by modern Americans. Thus, the book analyses how slaves from Africa were taken to America to work on the farm so that they can produce staple food only. Since slaves were few, they were not treated harshly, as seen later in the centuries to come. Most of the slaves did not undergo the pressure to work and were treated fairly. As time went by, the demand for slaves increased, and their massive transportation to the American soil led to them being degraded. Before the nineteenth century, slaves were not treated harshly since they were few, and the people needed their work done. After their increase, they lived a much harder life, which made most of them lose their lives. The demand for slaves led to their massive entrance in the country, leading to them being mistreated. Before the significant importation of slaves in America, the few ones lived a much comfortable life, as Ira explains.
The book expands a reader’s mind since it informs them of the history of slavery. Many Americans nowadays do not know the origin and early history of slavery. When they hear about the slave trade, most of them associate it with cotton plantations, among other features that came later in slavery. The early forms of slavery did not have cotton plantations, as Ira explains. The first slaves used to plant staple food and did less hard work compared to the slaves that came later. The slave trade became worse when years passed, and more slaves were taken in the American soil. The book has greatly assisted me in knowing the history of slavery from the beginning of time. It has also helped in understanding that slavery did not just start as a massive thing but was a process. Before slaves filled the country, there were only a few of them. They then increased as the demand rose. When I picked the book, I expected to read the standard and general story about slavery. I also expected to understand how the masters mistreated the slaves, but to my surprise, that did not happen. The book is unique and offers a different story about slavery. I enjoyed reading the book after finding out it had a different story compared to other stories I have read on slavery. It expands one’s mind and takes them back to the time when slavery was beginning. The book also shows that slavery at first was not very bad, and the people were not severely treated compared to the years that followed. I expected to learn a new thing about slavery, which I have. While reading, I wished to have asked the author questions about the period, but it was not possible.
The author explains how different people of this generation do not know the deep story of slavery. For the people to know deeper about slavery, Ira decided to write the book. The book has different instances where people talk about slavery during the time. Ira has also done different research before coming up with the book. Ira also gives directions to how the slaves were distributed throughout America. According to the author, the slaves were spread to different parts of the states, each part getting a name. The author’s aims to communicate the message have been achieved form the way the book starts. The arrangement and flow of the book give a clue to the reader on what is next. One can understand the book easily because of the arrangement and flow of chapters. The book also uses simple language, which is suitable for people of average age. The aims of the author have been achieved for anyone who has read the book. Starting from the first page, one can understand that slavery did not just start with many people working on a cotton farm but was a progressive procedure that took years before it became established. Many people can understand how the process took place and what the fate of these slaves became (Berlin).
The conclusion of the author is in line with the story. Ira summarizes the entre part of the story, which also acts as a reminder of all the chapters one has read. The conclusion follows a little bit of the thesis, and most of the parts remind the reader of the sections to read. The author uses a short conclusion so that the reader can briefly understand the book. All the chapters of the book come together at the conclusion part. One can remember all the sections through the author’s conclusion. According to the author, most of the history of slavery dates back in the nineteenth century. Much of the slavery story is left behind, and many people do not know about them. Although history is motivated, the author thinks that much of the story should be added to history so that people can be aware of the entire story of slavery. Ira’s representation seems fair, judging from how she began the story. He started it from far, drawing it to near, making the reader understand from a more comprehensive view.
In conclusion, the book The first two centuries of slavery in North America has greatly influenced my understanding of slavery in America. People do not know most of the details in the book since they major on the recent episodes of slavery. Many people who have read the book get to understand that slavery started a way back, and the treatment of slaves was different from that of the nineteenth century. Unlike in the nineteenth century, where slaves could get freedom, the first cases of slavery were different, as the author explains.
Works cited
Berlin, Ira1998, and Many Thousands Gone. “The first two centuries of slavery in North America.” (2003).