The Slavery, Law & Power Project
@slavery-law-power.bsky.social
SLP is a Digital Humanities project dedicated to bringing together disparate sources on the long history of slavery in early America & the British Atlantic. slaverylawpower.org
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Feedback Form Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.How did you find our site today? *Class assignmentLink from another digital humanities siteTwitterBlueskyOther social media...
slaverylawpower.org
April 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
We'd love to hear from you about your experiences with our site! slaverylawpower.org/feedback-form/
The English Bill of Rights underscore Parliament’s remaining worries about arbitrary and absolute monarchical rule after the Glorious Revolution. slaverylawpower.org/all-chapters...
English Bill of Rights 1689
A NEW MONARCHY English Bill of Rights (1689) With a quick end to the Glorious Revolution, and the ascension of William and Mary to the throne, a bill of rights was passed to enshrine fundamental Engli...
slaverylawpower.org
February 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The English Bill of Rights underscore Parliament’s remaining worries about arbitrary and absolute monarchical rule after the Glorious Revolution. slaverylawpower.org/all-chapters...
On trial for treason after the Rye House Plot, Algernon Sidney’s unpublished manuscript served as key evidence against him. His Discourses criticized absolute monarchy & slavery. https://slaverylawpower.org/algernon-sidney-discourses-concerning-government-excerpts-1680-1683/
Algernon Sidney – Discourses Concerning Government Excerpts (1680-1683)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
On trial for treason after the Rye House Plot, Algernon Sidney’s unpublished manuscript served as key evidence against him. His Discourses criticized absolute monarchy & slavery. https://slaverylawpower.org/algernon-sidney-discourses-concerning-government-excerpts-1680-1683/
Sir Thomas Grantham’s letters, describing his response to Bacon’s Rebellion as a member of the Royal Navy, remind us of the long reach of imperial power over colonial discontent and revolt. https://slaverylawpower.org/sir-thomas-grantham-letter-bacons-rebellion/
A Letter From Sir Thomas Grantham To a Member of Bacon’s Rebellion
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Sir Thomas Grantham’s letters, describing his response to Bacon’s Rebellion as a member of the Royal Navy, remind us of the long reach of imperial power over colonial discontent and revolt. https://slaverylawpower.org/sir-thomas-grantham-letter-bacons-rebellion/
Under Charles II, political prisoners increasingly faced lengthy imprisonment and denial of due process. The 1679 Habeas Corpus act emerged as Parliament’s response, to enshrine the habeas corpus. https://slaverylawpower.org/habeas-corpus-act-1679/
Habeas Corpus Act of 1679
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Under Charles II, political prisoners increasingly faced lengthy imprisonment and denial of due process. The 1679 Habeas Corpus act emerged as Parliament’s response, to enshrine the habeas corpus. https://slaverylawpower.org/habeas-corpus-act-1679/
King Charles II’s Council on Foreign Plantations regularly wrote colonial officials to gather information. What do their 1671 questions to Virginia Gov Berkeley - and his responses - tell us about their concerns? https://slaverylawpower.org/enquires-governor-virginia-1671/
Enquires to the Governor of Virginia (1671)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
King Charles II’s Council on Foreign Plantations regularly wrote colonial officials to gather information. What do their 1671 questions to Virginia Gov Berkeley - and his responses - tell us about their concerns? https://slaverylawpower.org/enquires-governor-virginia-1671/
Jamaica’s 1664 slave code, like Barbados’s 1661 code, came at a time where the restored monarchy and its supporters aimed to craft a colonial labor & economic system that would increase royal power & coffers. https://slaverylawpower.org/jamaica-slave-code-governing/
Jamaica Slave Code: Governing Slaves (1664)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Jamaica’s 1664 slave code, like Barbados’s 1661 code, came at a time where the restored monarchy and its supporters aimed to craft a colonial labor & economic system that would increase royal power & coffers. https://slaverylawpower.org/jamaica-slave-code-governing/
In March 1649, about 3 months after the execution of Charles I, Parliament abolished the kingly office, claiming it had been used to “oppress and impoverish and enslave the subject.” https://slaverylawpower.org/act-abolishing-kingly-office-1649/
An Act for Abolishing the Kingly Office
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In March 1649, about 3 months after the execution of Charles I, Parliament abolished the kingly office, claiming it had been used to “oppress and impoverish and enslave the subject.” https://slaverylawpower.org/act-abolishing-kingly-office-1649/
Robert Heath led Star Chamber prosecutions against many who challenged Charles I’s authority. As a reward, he received this charter, stretching from what’s now N & S Carolina and Georgia east to the Pacific Ocean. https://slaverylawpower.org/original-charter-of-carolina-1629/
Original Charter of Carolina (1629)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Robert Heath led Star Chamber prosecutions against many who challenged Charles I’s authority. As a reward, he received this charter, stretching from what’s now N & S Carolina and Georgia east to the Pacific Ocean. https://slaverylawpower.org/original-charter-of-carolina-1629/
Explore and learn from the historical debate over slavery, law, and power on our website https://slaverylawpower.org/. View scholarly introductions, original transcriptions, and interactive timelines from the 17th and and 18th centuries.
Home Page
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Explore and learn from the historical debate over slavery, law, and power on our website https://slaverylawpower.org/. View scholarly introductions, original transcriptions, and interactive timelines from the 17th and and 18th centuries.
St. George Tucker set out to gradually abolish slavery in Virginia in the decades after the American Revolution. While this act failed to pass, the fact that the act was debated in Virginia’s House of Delegates in 1796... (cont.)
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
St. George Tucker set out to gradually abolish slavery in Virginia in the decades after the American Revolution. While this act failed to pass, the fact that the act was debated in Virginia’s House of Delegates in 1796... (cont.)
(cont.) Colonial governance structures depended on charters that could be revoked by the king. https://slaverylawpower.org/dominion-of-new-england-1686/
Dominion of New England (1686)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
(cont.) Colonial governance structures depended on charters that could be revoked by the king. https://slaverylawpower.org/dominion-of-new-england-1686/
Attempting to reform the colonies, King James II revoked New England's charters to establish the Dominion of New England (1686-1689). This brief period is important in showing the instability of colonial governance in general.
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Attempting to reform the colonies, King James II revoked New England's charters to establish the Dominion of New England (1686-1689). This brief period is important in showing the instability of colonial governance in general.
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most influential documents in US history. However, like the conception of the nation, it was debated & revised. This 1776 draft reveals a removed section blaming the King for continuing the slave trade.https://t.co/c95MBefCGL
Thomas Jefferson Draft of the Declaration of Independence
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most influential documents in US history. However, like the conception of the nation, it was debated & revised. This 1776 draft reveals a removed section blaming the King for continuing the slave trade.https://t.co/c95MBefCGL
A lesser known work of John Locke is his essay “Reputation,” covering Locke’s view of the relationship of one’s social standing and fashion and influence. Check out this essay at the SLP site at https://slaverylawpower.org/john-locke-essay-reputation/
John Locke – An Essay on Reputation
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A lesser known work of John Locke is his essay “Reputation,” covering Locke’s view of the relationship of one’s social standing and fashion and influence. Check out this essay at the SLP site at https://slaverylawpower.org/john-locke-essay-reputation/
Caribbean slavery & Christianity existed as a paradox. Christians morally forbade the enslavement of fellow Christians, which clashed with enslaved people’s new interest in Protestantism. Richard Ligon captures this paradox in his 1657 account of Barbados. https://t.co/4CVolhLG3v
Richard Ligon – True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Caribbean slavery & Christianity existed as a paradox. Christians morally forbade the enslavement of fellow Christians, which clashed with enslaved people’s new interest in Protestantism. Richard Ligon captures this paradox in his 1657 account of Barbados. https://t.co/4CVolhLG3v
Sir Robert Filmer was a prominent advocate for the divine right of kings. Was he also an intellectual justifier of England’s expanding role in slavery? Locke described him as “advocate for slavery,” whose ideas were “preached in every pulpit” (by the CoE) https://t.co/zlJen3FkFi
Sir Robert Filmer – Patriarcha (1680)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Sir Robert Filmer was a prominent advocate for the divine right of kings. Was he also an intellectual justifier of England’s expanding role in slavery? Locke described him as “advocate for slavery,” whose ideas were “preached in every pulpit” (by the CoE) https://t.co/zlJen3FkFi
Historians? Do you have an interesting primary source document that speaks to debates over slavery, law, and imperial power? We’d love your suggestions on what to include as we continue to build our site:
https://t.co/Ke7rjWVWjH
https://t.co/Ke7rjWVWjH
February 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Historians? Do you have an interesting primary source document that speaks to debates over slavery, law, and imperial power? We’d love your suggestions on what to include as we continue to build our site:
https://t.co/Ke7rjWVWjH
https://t.co/Ke7rjWVWjH
Samuel Sewall’s The Selling of Joseph (1700) was the first anti-slavery pamphlet published in North America. What does his heavy reliance on Biblical argument tell us about his audience? Why was he speaking out? https://slaverylawpower.org/samuel-sewall-selling-joseph-1705/
Samuel Sewall – The Selling of Joseph (1705)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Samuel Sewall’s The Selling of Joseph (1700) was the first anti-slavery pamphlet published in North America. What does his heavy reliance on Biblical argument tell us about his audience? Why was he speaking out? https://slaverylawpower.org/samuel-sewall-selling-joseph-1705/
The 1787 Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. Peter McNelly’s case shows the struggle to make this law effectual in practice: https://slaverylawpower.org/peter-mcnelly-affidavit/
Affidavit of Peter McNelly (1794)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The 1787 Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in the Northwest Territory. Peter McNelly’s case shows the struggle to make this law effectual in practice: https://slaverylawpower.org/peter-mcnelly-affidavit/
Musty law books contain important evidence on how slavery was defined and buttressed. The 1677 case Butts v. Penny - a case from Barbados that ended up before England’s supreme court (the “King’s Bench”) in 1677, - was crucial.
https://slaverylawpower.org/butts-v-penny-1677/
https://slaverylawpower.org/butts-v-penny-1677/
Butts v. Penny (1677)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Musty law books contain important evidence on how slavery was defined and buttressed. The 1677 case Butts v. Penny - a case from Barbados that ended up before England’s supreme court (the “King’s Bench”) in 1677, - was crucial.
https://slaverylawpower.org/butts-v-penny-1677/
https://slaverylawpower.org/butts-v-penny-1677/
At a time when many were prosecuted for speaking against monarchical power, Morgan Godwyn challenged not just absolute power, but royal involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. https://slaverylawpower.org/morgan-godwyn-trade-religion-1685/
Morgan Godwyn – Trade Preferred Before Religion (1685)
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
At a time when many were prosecuted for speaking against monarchical power, Morgan Godwyn challenged not just absolute power, but royal involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. https://slaverylawpower.org/morgan-godwyn-trade-religion-1685/
When the 13 American colonies declared their independence, how many American colonies did Britain have left? By our count, 27. https://slaverylawpower.org/british-empire-map/
British Empire Map
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
When the 13 American colonies declared their independence, how many American colonies did Britain have left? By our count, 27. https://slaverylawpower.org/british-empire-map/
Barbados was the first English colony to adopt a comprehensive slave code. But it arose under peculiar circumstances… Read more at our site: https://slaverylawpower.org/barbados-slave-code/
Barbados Slave Code
slaverylawpower.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Barbados was the first English colony to adopt a comprehensive slave code. But it arose under peculiar circumstances… Read more at our site: https://slaverylawpower.org/barbados-slave-code/
In the 1660s - a pivotal decade for the entrenchment of racial slavery in the English empire - the monarchy was keen to control & regulate the press.
February 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
In the 1660s - a pivotal decade for the entrenchment of racial slavery in the English empire - the monarchy was keen to control & regulate the press.