About the book
When American slaveholders looked west in the mid-nineteenth century, they saw an empire unfolding before them. They pursued that vision through diplomacy, migration, and armed conquest. By the late 1850s, slaveholders and their allies had transformed the southwestern quarter of the nation – California, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Utah – into a political client of the plantation states. Across this vast swath of the map, white southerners defended the institution of African American chattel slavery as well as systems of Native American bondage. This surprising history uncovers the Old South in unexpected places, far beyond the region’s cotton fields and sugar plantations.
Slaveholders' western ambitions culminated in a coast-to-coast crisis of the Union. By 1861, the rebellion in the South inspired a series of separatist movements in the Far West. Even after the collapse of the Confederacy, the threads connecting South and West held, undermining the radical promise of Reconstruction. Kevin Waite brings to light what contemporaries recognized but historians have described only in part: The struggle over slavery played out on a transcontinental stage.
Editions of West of Slavery
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469663180
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469663197
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469663210
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890857811
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469663203
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890857804
Read an Excerpt
When American slaveholders looked west in the mid-nineteenth century, they saw an empire unfolding before them. They pursued that vision through diplomacy, migration, and armed conquest. By the late 1850s, slaveholders and their allies had transformed the southwestern quarter of the nation – California, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Utah – into a political client of the plantation states. Across this vast swath of the map, white southerners defended the institution of African American chattel slavery as well as systems of Native American bondage. This surprising history uncovers the Old South in unexpected places, far beyond the region’s cotton fields and sugar plantations.
Slaveholders' western ambitions culminated in a coast-to-coast crisis of the Union. By 1861, the rebellion in the South inspired a series of separatist movements in the Far West. Even after the collapse of the Confederacy, the threads connecting South and West held, undermining the radical promise of Reconstruction. Kevin Waite brings to light what contemporaries recognized but historians have described only in part: The struggle over slavery played out on a transcontinental stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is West of Slavery about?
When American slaveholders looked west in the mid-nineteenth century, they saw an empire unfolding before them. They pursued that vision through diplomacy, migration, and armed conquest. By the late 1850s, slaveholders and their allies had transformed the southwestern quarter of the nation – California, New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Utah – into a political client of the plantation states. Across this vast swath of the map, white southerners defended the institution of African American chattel slavery as well as systems of Native American bondage. This surprising history uncovers the Old South in unexpected places, far beyond the region’s cotton fields and sugar plantations.
Slaveholders' western ambitions culminated in a coast-to-coast crisis of the Union. By 1861, the rebellion in the South inspired a series of separatist movements in the Far West. Even after the collapse of the Confederacy, the threads connecting South and West held, undermining the radical promise of Reconstruction. Kevin Waite brings to light what contemporaries recognized but historians have described only in part: The struggle over slavery played out on a transcontinental stage.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in West of Slavery?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of West of Slavery?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469663180
How long is West of Slavery and how many pages does it have?
West of Slavery has 392 page(s)
Is West of Slavery part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The David J. Weber Series in the New Borderlands History
Who is/are the Author/s of the book West of Slavery?
Kevin Waite
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
West of Slavery is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469663180) and paperback(ISBN 9781469663197) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663210) and ebook(ISBN 9798890857811) and ebook(ISBN 9781469663203) and pdf(ISBN 9798890857804)
Where can I buy West of Slavery online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy West of Slavery from below
Where can I buy West of Slavery?