The Cotton Economy: Slavery and the Rise of Textiles in the West (eBook, ePUB)

The Cotton Economy: Slavery and the Rise of Textiles in the West by Oliver Shaw explores the intertwined histories of cotton production, the institution of slavery, and the growth of the textile industry in the Western world. The book delves into how the Southern United States became the epicenter of global cotton trade, with slavery at its core, and how this system influenced the global economy, particularly the rise of industrialization in Britain. Shaw examines the environmental and social costs of cotton cultivation, the role of enslaved African Americans in sustaining the cotton economy, and the moral, political, and economic consequences of an industry driven by forced labor. As the cotton economy shaped the economic and political landscapes of the 19th century, this book also highlights the lasting legacies of slavery and its intersection with the rise of Western industrial powers, providing a nuanced understanding of how cotton‘s dominance shaped the modern capitalist world.