Super Short Summary

American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund S. Morgan explores how America's Founding Fathers, particularly in Virginia, advocated for freedom while owning slaves. Morgan examines the unlikely development of slavery due to the failure to enslave Indigenous populations and indentured servants, analyzing the economic and social transition towards racial slavery. The book, divided into four parts, details the colony's early struggles, development, societal divisions, and eventual embrace of slavery influenced by racism and populist movements. The account highlights the intertwined relationship between freedom and slavery in colonial Virginia, culminating in the insights of Thomas Jefferson. Topics related to slavery, racism, and colonial exploitation are discussed in depth.