Accounts of Slavery: An Analysis of United States History Textbooks from 1900 to 1992

Abstract

The presentation of slavery in United States history texts varies dramatically across five time periods from 1900 to 1992. During the first third of this century, textbook authors present slavery in a neutral way. During the Great Depression and World War II, authors justify slavery by appealing to the needs of the market. The late 1950s and the 1960s see the introduction of some limited discussion of the moral wrongs of slavery, while the texts of the late 1960s and the 1970s begin to express an awareness of the value of social diversity. Finally, in the 1980s and 1990s, the presentation of slavery reflects the nation's growing conservatism and the increased influence of the religious right.