Capitalism and Slavery
In the introduction to his book Capitalism and Slavery, Eric Williams clearly states, “Here, then, is the origin of Negro slavery. The reason was economic, not racial; it had to do not with the color of the laborer, but the cheapness of the labor.” This meant that he was attempting to pursue an understanding of the economic aspects of slavery without the association of morals nor ethics. An argument that is indeed controversial in our now humanitarian-based society. In perspective, we cannot understand Williams argument without understanding what he puts forth in his book.
The essence of William’s argument is that a change in the economic structure produced a corresponding change in labor supply. He attested this throughout …show more content…
This was another aspect that made the book important second to the economic background of slavery. The development of racism came about as a means of isolating the African community from the ruling and dominant white. One advantage that aided in the selection of Africans as a source of slavery was solely based on their inability to blend in due to their skin color. Their status as slaves and their skin color then lead to the discrimination of the African people in the American and Caribbean plantations. As they were deemed ‘disposable,’ the development of an inferiority complex was then inevitable especially with the sweet-toothed Westerners who only viewed their labor as tools to maximize their profits rather than humans. Thus, concludes the under-arching argument set forth by Williams of the origin of racism from …show more content…
This is an argument that David Eltis supports in Chapter 10 of his book The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. To him, the flow of capital and labor to the tropical Americans from Europe was largely based on socioeconomic status as ‘success or failure would be measured by the same standards in slave and non-slave societies’ (1). He further solidifies his support of Williams argument by stating that, “success or failure would be measured by the same standards in slave and non-slave societies” (1). In this manner, David further supports Williams in this chapter by explaining the development of industrialization. Indeed, the triangular trade contributed to the industrialization in England and created a unified Atlantic world that included Europe, western Africa, the Caribbean islands, and the mainland of North and South
In the introduction to his book Capitalism and Slavery, Eric Williams clearly states, “Here, then, is the origin of Negro slavery. The reason was economic, not racial; it had to do not with the color of the laborer, but the cheapness of the labor.” This meant that he was attempting to pursue an understanding of the economic aspects of slavery without the association of morals nor ethics. An argument that is indeed controversial in our now humanitarian-based society. In perspective, we cannot understand Williams argument without understanding what he puts forth in his book.
The essence of William’s argument is that a change in the economic structure produced a corresponding change in labor supply. He attested this throughout …show more content…
This was another aspect that made the book important second to the economic background of slavery. The development of racism came about as a means of isolating the African community from the ruling and dominant white. One advantage that aided in the selection of Africans as a source of slavery was solely based on their inability to blend in due to their skin color. Their status as slaves and their skin color then lead to the discrimination of the African people in the American and Caribbean plantations. As they were deemed ‘disposable,’ the development of an inferiority complex was then inevitable especially with the sweet-toothed Westerners who only viewed their labor as tools to maximize their profits rather than humans. Thus, concludes the under-arching argument set forth by Williams of the origin of racism from …show more content…
This is an argument that David Eltis supports in Chapter 10 of his book The Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. To him, the flow of capital and labor to the tropical Americans from Europe was largely based on socioeconomic status as ‘success or failure would be measured by the same standards in slave and non-slave societies’ (1). He further solidifies his support of Williams argument by stating that, “success or failure would be measured by the same standards in slave and non-slave societies” (1). In this manner, David further supports Williams in this chapter by explaining the development of industrialization. Indeed, the triangular trade contributed to the industrialization in England and created a unified Atlantic world that included Europe, western Africa, the Caribbean islands, and the mainland of North and South