The peculiar institution cover

The peculiar institution

by Kenneth M. Stampp

In ten sparkling chapters the book details and illuminates every aspect of slavery....Slavery is viewed not as a method of regulating race relations, not as an arrangement that was in its essence paternalistic, but as a practical system of controlling and exploiting labor. How the slaves worked, how they resisted bondage, how they were disciplined, how they lived their lives in the quarters, and how they behaved toward each other and toward their masters are themes which receive full exploration....The materials are handled with imagination and verve, the style is polished, the factual evidence is precise and accurate. Some scholars will disagree with the conclusions. No one can afford to disregard them. - Frank W. Klingberg, American Historical Review - Back cover. THIS BOOKS DISCUSSES THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY AS IT WAS PRACTICED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MR.STAMPP CONFRONTS MANY OF THE MYTHS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE BLACKS TOWARDS THEIR OWNERS, AS WELL AS THE TREATMENT OF SLAVES BY THEIR OWNERS. I READ THIS BOOK YEARS AGO AND WANT TO REVISIT YHE BOOK BECAUSE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN. THEY NEED TO KNOW MORE THAN WHAT IS IN THEIR HISTORY BOOKS AT SCHOOL.

More by Kenneth M. Stampp

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?