Paul Finkelman Livres

W. E. B. Du Bois was a public intellectual, sociologist, and activist on behalf of the African American community. He profoundly shaped black political culture in the United States through his founding role in the NAACP, as well as internationally through the Pan-African movement. Du Bois's sociological and historical research on African-American communities and culture broke ground in many areas, including the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Du Bois was also a prolific author of novels, autobiographical accounts, innumerable editorials and journalistic pieces, and several works of history. John Brown is W. E. B. Du Bois's groundbreaking political biography that paved the way for his transition from academia to a lifelong career in social activism. This biography is unlike Du Bois's earlier work; it is intended as a work of consciousness-raising on the politics of race. Less important are the historical events of John Brown's life than the political revelations found within the pages of this biography. At the time that he wrote it in 1909, Du Bois had begun his transformation into the most influential civil rights leader of his time. With a series introduction by editor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and an introduction by Paul Finkelman, this edition is essential for anyone interested in African American history.

"In this third edition of Slavery and the Founders, including a new chapter on the regulation and eventual banning of the African slave trade, Paul Finkelman confronts a central issue of the American founding: how the first generation of leaders of the United States dealt with the profoundly important question of human bondage. The book explores the tension between the professed idea of America as stated in the Declaration of Independence, and the reality of the early American republic, reminding us of the ways that slavery influenced the writing of the Constitution and the development of early national politics and law. The book remains the most important short critique of Thomas Jefferson's relationship to slavery, and contrasts the way Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans approached the problem of slavery in the first thirty years after the Revolution"--Unedited summary from book cover.

Focusing on the legal aspects of slavery, this classic analysis delves into pamphlet materials from the U.S. and Great Britain, providing a comprehensive understanding of key cases such as Somerset v. Stewart, The United States v. Amistad, and Dred Scott v. Sanford. Recognized with the Joseph A. Andrews Award in 1986, the book offers detailed discussions that illuminate the complexities of slavery law, making it accessible for readers interested in legal history. Illustrated with 312 pages of insightful content.

The narrative explores the presidency of a leader whose inflexible decisions and lack of foresight led to deep national divisions. His actions not only alienated various factions but also contributed to the escalating tensions that ultimately resulted in civil war. The book delves into the complex political landscape of the time, shedding light on the president's controversial choices and their far-reaching consequences for the nation.

In ruling after ruling, the three most important pre Civil War justices- Marshall, Taney, and Story-upheld slavery. Paul Finkelman establishes an authoritative account of each justice's proslavery position, the reasoning behind his opposition to black freedom, and the personal incentives that embedded racism ever deeper in American civic life.