The Practicality of Slavery in Latin America

Authors

Amy Werner, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Christopher Schmidt-Nowara's book, Slavery, Freedom, and Abolition in Latin America and the Atlantic World, addresses the fact that Latin America has always been a place of great struggles and triumphs. While inconsistency and danger have always had a stronghold in this place, serious traditions have developed as well. Slavery is one of the most apparent examples of this; an analysis of how it functioned is highly revealing of the historical past. Without it, the development of Latin America would have been far less productive. It was an economic gold mine that was integrated into society and that was why people clung to it so much. Slavery was so resilient in Latin America because it worked well and was a key component of Latin American identity that people did not want to give up. This is evident by analyzing the progression of slavery and its termination.

Recommended Citation

Werner, Amy (2013) "The Practicality of Slavery in Latin America," Constructing the Past: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/constructing/vol14/iss1/12