Appearance
Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution
I realy liked the book; it is part of my family history, the Potter's, Taylor's, Brown's and Hopkins are a part of the tree that I am researching.
Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution
Moses and John Brown were brothers and partners in one of the most successful trading companies in pre-revolutionary America. After their first investment in the "triangle slave trade" (slaves from Africa to the Carribean, sugar and molasses from the Carribean to New England, distilled spirits from New England to Africa), the partnership broke apart. Eventually, Moses converted and became a Quaker, and one of the leading pre-revolutionary abolitionists; while John became one of the leading spokesmen defending the New England based slave trade.Using this family split, Rappleye tells the story of the American Revolution through the lens of the slave trade. This was NOT a north-south issue, as most history books portray it. Rather, it was a split with slave traders of New England (who held political power in many of the northern colonies), who wanted unlimited right to trade in anything they wanted. Joining the northern traders were the landed gentry of the deep southern states who needed more slaves. The mid-Atlantic states had few traders, and the landed interests wanted the higher prices for their existing slaves, needed no more slaves, and thus had an economic interest in barring the import of additional slaves. Finally, there were the abolitionist--mostly religious--who wanted to abolish slavery altogether.In Rhode Island and many other states, the pro-slavery forces initially won out (Moses was completely marginalized politically on the slavery issue for most of the period leading up to the revolution, and for several years after), and bills to bar the slave trade were first resoundingly defeated, and then once passed, not enforced. As the economic base (and I suspect the voting franchise--an issue Rappleye doesn't discuss) expanded, the traders lost ground, and abolition became the trend in the northern states, eventually leading to the abolition (at least on paper) of the slave trade nationally.Rappleye has given us a fascinating perspective on the American Revolution--a perspective not usually covered. Highly recommended.
Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution
While there is a lot of interesting information in this book, much of it is redundant and repetitious, while the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. In the end this is the story of two brothers who spent their lives on opposite sides of the slavery issue. Moses who originally was involved with the outfitting of ships that went to Africa, later became a Quaker and a fighter for the end of slavery and the slave trade.John Brown spent a lifetime cheating everyone he could, lying and cheating everyone he came in contact with (including his family). But Rappleye never calls him to task. Prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution, John instigated the burning of a British man-of-war. He was arrested and sent to Boston for trial. Moses went to Boston and was able to secure John's release on the promise that John would stay out of politics. John never did and just went on his merry way. During the war he built privateers which he armed with his cannons from is foundry, but delayed the launch of a Continental Frigate in Boston by constantly delaying delivery of canon he had promised.During the war John was very happy to deal with the Continental Congress but did all he could to charge outrageous prices on goods he sold to both the Continental Army and Navy. After the war he convinced the Congress to buy a ship that he had built that never sailed well and was called 'the worst ship in North America'. During most of his life he continued to invest in ships that dealt with the slave trade while constantly promising that he would stop. While a member of the US Congress he was able to get Bristol RI declared a separate 'Revenue District' so that his friends could continue to pursue the Slave Trade after it was outlawed by the Congress and the State of Rhode Island.His brother Moses worked for twenty-five years for manumission of all slaves in RI, but could never convince John to do the same. So John was not cantakerous, he was crooked and Moses was a fool for always expecting his brother to live up to his promises. When John died, he left an estate of over $250,000, but he also left debts of over $150,000.Zeb Kantrowitz
Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, the Slave Trade, and the American Revolution
uncovers what the history books have been trying to hide. america almost ended slavery at the very begining
Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads
This book is really outstanding. I recommend it to anyone who has just lost their father or for someone who has not gotten a handle on their loss however long ago it was.Clea Simon writes as though she is speaking directly to you. She tells her own painful story and comforts her reader in doing so. Ms.Simon tells of many other women's experiences of losing their fathers so the reader gets many different perspectives on father/daughter relationships and how these daughters dealt with losing their fathers.Fatherless Women, for me, chronicled all the feelings I had felt, did feel and would feel during the grieving process. I was very comforted by this book. It made me feel I was part of a group so I stopped feeling so alone and isolated. It made me familiar with my feelings so I could give a name to what I am/was going through.Her book is an easy to read, informative, reassuring and very personable account of one of the most difficult things women go through.I would not have been able to begin my healing without this book. I thank you from the depths of my soul, Clea Simon.
Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads
"Fatherless Women" explores what for many of us will be a scary, and challenging journey: Growing up from "good girls" to become "smart women." With lots of stories from dozens of women, it shows us how we grieve -- not always what you'd expect! -- and how, if we let ourselves mourn the death of our fathers, we can learn to appreciate them as humans and then understand all the ways they influenced us. With other stories, we're shown how this new insight not only helps us with our sadness and guilt -- it can also free us to be the women we want to be, taking the best of our fathers' legacies to us and dumping the worst (including our own overreactions). An invaluable guide -- and really affirming of my experience since my dad's passing!