Race and Revolution by Gary

¶ … Race and revolution by Gary B. Nash. Specifically, it will contain a review of the book. The author's thesis for this short history of slavery and revolt during the American Revolution is why the founding fathers failed to abolish slavery when they had the chance. He writes, "In particular, I wish to stress the role of the northern states in the failure to abolish slavery" (Nash, 1990, p. 6). Thus, his book takes a different look at abolition than most histories of the time. Most historians believe the founding fathers were pressured to accept slavery by the southern states, and had little power to change the practice. Nash introduces evidence that shows this was not the case, and it makes for a compelling and interesting look back into history.

Throughout this set of essays, the author produces large amounts of evidence to back up his claims, and he presents many or most of these documents at the end of the book. Thus, the student can read Nash's conclusions and back them up with the actual historical documents he used to come to his conclusions. For example, he uses several documents as references in the First Chapter to indicate how many people were speaking out against slavery before and during the Revolution, and to indicate that the framers of the American Constitution did have a choice. They could have abolished slavery, and it was actually a good time to attempt to end the practice. In fact, Nash notes the 1774 Continental Congress "pledged not only to forswear further traffic in slaves but to hire no vessels and sell no produce or manufactures 'to those who are concerned in it'" (Nash, 1990, p. 9). He shows that many people, northerners and southerners alike, argued against slavery, and many felt it was a foregone conclusion that the founding fathers would eliminate the practice when they formed the foundations of the country.

Of course, Nash's opinions and conclusions are controversial because they go against so many other historians' conclusions. However, it is clear he did extensive research before he wrote these essays. He adds a complete set of notes and references used at the end of each chapter in addition to the nineteen complete documents he includes at the end of the book. He completed exhaustive research, so his ideas are not simply based on speculation; they are well thought out and thoroughly investigated. He uses a combination of books, articles, letters, memoirs, and other written documents to ensure he has a broad cross section of historical documents as evidence for his conclusions, as well.