By James A. Williamson

The book “A Short History of British Expansion” by James A. Williamson provides a comprehensive overview of the British Empire’s growth and development, focusing on key historical events, policies, and figures that shaped its expansion. The fourth edition,published in 1958, includes revisions and extensions to cover events up to the end of 1952.

Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions (1783-1870):The effects of the American secession and the Industrial Revolution,including advancements in oceanic trade, factory enterprise, and transport. The Agricultural Revolution’s impact on increased output and enclosures.

Population Growth: Diverse views on the social effects of the revolutions.oSignificant growth in British and Irish populations and 19th-century emigration.

Fundamental Ideas:oShifts in national outlook pre-and post-1870.oThe rise of free trade, influenced by Adam Smith’s“Wealth of Nations,”andthe Manchester School’s economic reforms.

Oceanic Expansion:oExploration of the Pacific and improvements in shipping and navigation.oKey voyages by Cook, Vancouver, and others, and the impact of theNapoleonic Wars on colonial policies.

Great Britain and Latin America: The emancipation of Spanish colonies and the opening of China and Japan. Changes in oceanic trade and the development of new trades like tea, rice,and jute.

Colonial Administration: Changes in colonial governance post-American secession.oThe rise of Radical imperialists and the Manchester School’s influence on free trade and colonial self-government.

Macmillan, 1967, 391 pages

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Edited by Peter Quennell

Publication and Influence: First published in 1851, Mayhew’s work influencedCharles Dickens and provided a background for his novels. A new edition with improvements appeared ten years later, and a fourth volume was added in 1862.

Abridged Edition: Quennell’s edition focuses on the graphic and personal side ofMayhew’s survey, offering a detailed panorama of London in the1850s.

Social Classes: The book categorizes various street people, including costermongers, patterers, street performers, and mechanics, detailing their habits,amusements, and social dynamics.

Costermongers: A significant portion of the document is dedicated to costermongers, their unique slang, economic practices, and community life. It Discusses their gambling habits, political views, and interactions with the police.

Education and Language: The document highlights the uneducated state of costermongers, their distinctive slang language, and the education of their children.

Honesty and Conveyances: Insights into the honesty among costermongers, their conveyances, and the Smithfield races where they buy their donkeys.

Daily Life and Work: Costermongers operate in various parts of London, often in poorer neighborhoods, starting their day early to buy goods from markets like Billingsgate.

Economic Practices: Many do not own their stock or equipment, borrowing at high interest rates. They use slang weights and measures to maximize profits.

Spring Books, 1851, 592 pages

By ALICE WILLARD SOLENBERGER

This book is a detailed study of 1,000 homeless men in Chicago, conducted by Alice Willard Solenberger. It examines their physical conditions, causes of homelessness, and social remedies early in the 20th century.. Solenberger applied charity organization methods to homeless men, similar to those used for families, to understand and address their needs more effectively.. The study highlights the inadequate treatment of homeless men and suggests that personalized, in-depth approaches can lead to better outcomes and contains extensive raw data and information. Finally, it emphasizes the need for better laws and facilities to support homeless individuals and reduce vagrancy.

NY. Russell Sage Foundation. 1911. 397p.

By Thomas Clarkson

This book details the efforts and challenges faced by Thomas Clarkson and others in the abolition of the African slave trade by the British Parliament from 1768 to 1807. Clarkson traveled extensively to gather evidence against the slave trade, facing significant difficulties and opposition. Various committees were formed across the UK to support the abolition cause, including those in Poole, Bristol, and Manchester. The committee published numerous works to educate and mobilize public opinion against the slave trade.

British Parliament. Read-Me.Org Classic Reprint. 2024 (1808). 592p.

By Thomas Clarkson

This book provides a detailed history of the abolition of the African slave trade by the British Parliament, highlighting the significant figures and events involved. It mentions influential individuals like Granville Sharp, William Pitt, and Charles James Fox, who played crucial roles in the abolition movement, outlines the various challenges faced by abolitionists ,and the extensive efforts made to gather evidence and support for the cause.The role of Christianity in promoting the abolition of the slave trade and improving moral conditions is discussed.

British Parliament. Read-Me.Org. classic reprint. 2024 ( 1808). 580p.

Edited By William Gervase Clarence-Smith

Over a million slaves were exported from Indian Ocean and Red Sea ports in Eastern Africa during the 19th century, with millions more moved within the continent[. The slave trade expanded significantly in the 19th century, driven by demand for labor in the western Indian Ocean and improved maritime security. Slaves were used in various roles, including laborers, concubines, eunuchs, and administrators, with significant numbers employed in agriculture, urban economies, and domestic roles.: The nature and scale of slavery varied across regions, with some areas like Zanzibar and Pemba having plantation systems similar to the New World, while others had more subsistence-based servitude.

FRANK CASS AND COMPANY LIMITED. Gainsborough House, Gainsborough Road, London. 1989. 228p.

BY GEORGE PADMORE

The document details the severe exploitation and oppression of Negro workers across various regions, including British, French, Belgian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian Africa. It discusses the conditions of black slaves in the United States, the West Indies, and Latin America, highlighting the brutal realities of slavery and its lasting impacts. The book describes the awakening and revolutionary movements among Negro workers in different regions, emphasizing their struggles for freedom and better living conditions, and outlines the role of imperialist powers in exploiting Negro workers and the economic and social challenges faced by these communities under imperialist rule.

R.I.L.U. Magazine for the International Union Committee of Negro Workers London, 1931. 125p.

By Gerald Cardoso

Certainly! Here are the key insights from the document:

Historical Context: The study examines the institution of slavery in the sugar plantations of Veracruz and Pernambuco between 1550-1680, comparing the Spanish and Portuguese colonial systems.

Economic Impact: Slavery was crucial for the economic development of the colonies, influencing labor practices and contributing to the prosperity generated by the sugar industry.

Cultural Influence: The interaction between the ruling and subservient groups, as well as between whites and people of color, shaped a multitude of cultural mores and attitudes[^1^][1].

Resistance and Rebellion: The document highlights the persistent struggle for freedom by enslaved individuals, including the formation ofquilombos (maroon communities) and the notable resistance led byfigures like Zumbi in Palmares.This summary captures the essence of the document's exploration of slavery'srole in colonial Latin America.

University Press of America, 1983, 211 pages

By Audrey Fisch

"American Slaves in Victorian England" by Audrey Fisch sheds light on the often overlooked history of American slaves who found themselves in England during the Victorian era. Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, Fisch explores the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of these individuals as they navigated a society far from home. This book provides a thought-provoking glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of both American and British history, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of race, identity, and freedom in the 19th century.

Cambridge University Press, 2000, 139 pages

By Joseph E. Harrris

The African Presence in Asia by Joseph E. Harris examines the historical interactions between Africa and Asia, shedding light on the often overlooked narratives of African presence and influence in Asian societies. Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, Harris uncovers the complexities of these cross-continental connections, challenging traditional perspectives on global history. This groundbreaking book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the interconnectedness of diverse cultures and the untold stories that have shaped our world.

Northwestern University Press, 1971 - 156 pagine

A Modern Slavery By Henry W. Nevinson

This book, first published in 1906 provides a factual account of slavery in the Portuguese colony of Angola. Nevinson describes the brutal conditions of slavery, the slave trade routes, and the impact on African societies, emphasizing the inhumanity and suffering caused by the slave trade.The book mentions the work of missionaries in Africa, highlighting their efforts to provide education, medical care, and a message of peace, despite the challenges posed by colonial exploitation. The author  criticizes the Portuguese colonial system for perpetuating slavery and forced labor, particularly in the cultivation of cocoa on the islands of San Thome and Principe, leading to widespread suffering and death among the enslaved population.

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1968 - 252 pages

By Christine E. Sears

The book examines the impact of African-American abolitionists in England during the 1850s, highlighting their efforts to present the slave experience and stimulate opposition to American slavery.It explores how the campaign intersected with various English issues such as Victorian literary market changes, class and gender tensions, and national identity questions.Despite its popularity, the abolitionist campaign inadvertently reinforced English nationalism, becoming a point of interest for students of African-American studies and 19th-century literature and history[^2^][2].

Springer, 2012, 240 pagws

By Bruce Davis

This is the first comprehensive study of the history and evolution of American indecent exposure laws. The study informs a critical analysis of the role of courts as custos morum, or custodian of the morals. It contains a detailed constitutional analysis of legal management of morality.

The laws are a cornerstone of government regulation of morals, with roots tracing back to seventeenth century English and American cases, laws, and regulations. The state interests protected by indecent exposure laws focus on deterring public behaviors contrary to prevailing moral order and protecting the public from offense or alarm. As moral authority has shifted away from Christianity, the moral authority supporting maintenance of moral order have diminished and fragmented, leaving nuisance as the main justification. Most state statutes now define indecent exposure in terms of audience reaction, reflecting this dependence on nuisance theory. Supreme Court trends have weakened even this justification, raising questions about the viability of current indecent exposure laws.

Despite their fundamental role in moral regulation, indecent exposure laws have received little academic, political, or legal scrutiny. This analysis elucidates their origins, history, and effects, informing development of more effective policies on managing sexuality and nudity. The history of indecent exposure laws also provides insights into managing morals and church-state relations in secular societies. Legal, social, and political trends have created multiple complex jurisprudential dilemmas, exposing the laws to potential constitutional challenges based on the Establishment Clause, free exercise of religion, free speech, privacy, autonomy, overbreadth and vagueness, viewpoint restrictions, content-based restrictions, prior restraints, and equal protection precedent and doctrines. Changes in indecent exposure laws are likely but their costs and benefits remain unclear.

The book chronicles the origins and evolution of courts as custodian of morals. Aspects of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health abortion case decided in 2023 suggest that this regime may be nearing an end. Competing moral authorities are contributing to a worsening crisis in moral jurisprudence. The book proposes a public policy framework more aligned with our maturing Constitution that may be better suited to current conditions, based on an empirical approach to legal management of morals in a pluralistic liberal democracy.

New York. Read-Me.Org Inc. 2024. 313p.

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by Rev. William Wright.

The text discusses the state of slavery at the Cape of Good Hope, detailing the author's observations and experiences during his ten-year residence there. It mentions various laws and ordinances related to slavery at the Cape, including Lord Charles Somerset's Proclamation of 1823 and the Consolidated Order in Council for the Crown Colonies, dated February 2, 1830. The author also references efforts towards ameliorating enactments and the potential for a scheme for the extinction of slavery by the colonists themselves.

John Rodwell, London. 1831. Reprinted in 1969 by Negro Universities Press,., New York. 116p.

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BY WILLIAM LAW MATHIESON

This book provides an overview of the historical context and the measures taken to end the slave trade, emphasizing Great Britain's pivotal role and the international efforts to suppress this inhumane practice. It highlights the efforts to abolish the slave trade and the challenges faced, with reference to treaties with Spain and Portugal and describes Sierra Leone's significance as a base for anti-slavery operations and its challenges.

New York. OCTAGON BOOKS. INC.1967.

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Sir REGINALD COUPLAND

The book begins with a reference to James Stephen, a significant figure in the British anti-slavery movement.  Authored by Sir Reginald Coupland, the book provides a historical account of the British anti-slavery movement, with a new introduction by J. D. Fage.  The text delves into the origins and development of slavery, its practice in ancient civilizations, and the eventual involvement of Europe and America in the African slave trade. It discusses the moral implications of slavery and the economic factors that led to the rise of the slave trade, particularly in relation to the colonization of the Americas, thus setting the stage for a detailed exploration of the British efforts to abolish slavery and the slave trade.

FRANK CASS & CO LTD LONDON. 1933. 273p.

By Rajan Khatiwoda

The main ambition of this book lies in a detailed analysis of the formation and enforcement of Nepal’s Mulukī Ain of 1854, specifically focusing on the provisions regarding homicide within the Mulukī Ains of 1854 and 1870. This study also examines contemporaneous legal records, revealing the complexities of the Ain’s implementation. The articles on homicide serve as a microcosm illustrating the broader evolution of Nepal’s legal code, which departed from outdated punishments like genital mutilation and introduced fines and imprisonment instead. Still, the innovations introduced into the Ain of 1854 were not uniformly progressive. The Ain in its various stages of development thus showcases the complex ways in which legal systems inevitably undergo transformation.

Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing (heiUP), 2024. 439p.

By Oscar Vilhena Vieira

In 2013, Brazil faced political and social upheaval, amid widescale public protests over economic challenges and startling revelations of corruption in the Operation Car Wash investigation. The crisis led to a presidential impeachment and the election of a far-right politician, Jair Bolsonaro, in 2018.

In a new book, “Battle of Powers,” Oscar Vilhena Vieira examines the historical and institutional context of this tumultuous period in recent Brazilian history. In doing so, he offers a reminder of the dangers extremist political movements pose for the rule of law in Brazil and elsewhere, and the importance of constitutional barriers to contain authoritarian cycles. The book also demonstrates how the failure of a government to deliver basic public goods can gradually erode democratic culture and open opportunities for political movements that are less willing to accept institutional constraints on executive power.

Wilson Center and FGV Sao Paulo Law School, 2024

By Ethan Blue

As banks crashed, belts tightened, and cupboards emptied across the country, American prisons grew fat. Doing Time in the Depression tells the story of the 1930s as seen from the cell blocks and cotton fields of Texas and California prisons, state institutions that held growing numbers of working people from around the country and the world—overwhelmingly poor, disproportionately non-white, and displaced by economic crisis. Ethan Blue paints a vivid portrait of everyday life inside Texas and California’s penal systems. Each element of prison life—from numbing boredom to hard labor, from meager pleasure in popular culture to crushing pain from illness or violence—demonstrated a contest between keepers and the kept. From the moment they arrived to the day they would leave, inmates struggled over the meanings of race and manhood, power and poverty, and of the state itself. In this richly layered account, Blue compellingly argues that punishment in California and Texas played a critical role in producing a distinctive set of class, race, and gender identities in the 1930s, some of which reinforced the social hierarchies and ideologies of New Deal America, and others of which undercut and troubled the established social order. He reveals the underside of the modern state in two very different prison systems, and the making of grim institutions whose power would only grow across the century.

New York; London: New York University Press, 2012.

By Kenneth R. Aslakson

 No American city’s history better illustrates both the possibilities for alternative racial models and the role of the law in shaping racial identity than New Orleans, Louisiana, which prior to the Civil War was home to America’s most privileged community of people of African descent. In the eyes of the law, New Orleans’s free people of color did not belong to the same race as enslaved Africans and African-Americans. While slaves were “negroes,” free people of color were gens de couleur libre, creoles of color, or simply creoles. New Orleans’s creoles of color remained legally and culturally distinct from “negroes” throughout most of the nineteenth century until state mandated segregation lumped together descendants of slaves with descendants of free people of color.

Much of the recent scholarship on New Orleans examines what race relations in the antebellum period looked as well as why antebellum Louisiana’s gens de couleur enjoyed rights and privileges denied to free blacks throughout most of the United States. This book, however, is less concerned with the what and why questions than with how people of color, acting within institutions of power, shaped those institutions in ways beyond their control. As its title suggests, Making Race in the Courtroom argues that race is best understood not as a category, but as a process. It seeks to demonstrate the role of free people of African-descent, interacting within the courts, in this process.

New York; London: New York University Press, 2014. 272p.