This bibliography of slavery in the United States is a guide to books documenting the history of slavery in the U.S., from its colonial origins in the 17th century through the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which officially abolished the practice in 1865. In addition, links are provided to related bibliographies, in the United States and articles elsewhere in Wikipedia.
Histories
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1999
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1975
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1988
- National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, 2021
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2011
Regions
The North
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1987
The South
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2003
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1968
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2005
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1967
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2004; Pulitzer Prize for History, 2004
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1999
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 2014
Historical eras
Colonial Era: 16th centuryâÂÂ1776
Revolutionary Era: 1776âÂÂearly 19th century
- Bolton, S. Charles. Fugitivism: Escaping Slavery in the Lower Mississippi Valley, 1820-1860 (University of Arkansas Press, 2019) online
- National Book Award for History and Biography, 1976
Civil War Era: 1850sâÂÂ1870s
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2002
- National Book Award for History (paperback), 1981; Pulitzer Prize for History,1980
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 1977
Reconstruction/Jim Crow Eras: 1870sâÂÂ1965
Biographies
- National Book Award for Nonfiction, 1998
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 2019; Bancroft Prize for American History, 2019
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 1982
- National Book Award for Nonfiction, 2008
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1994
Essay collections
The following collections explore either related topics or a range of issues tied to slavery. Many of the essays are by leading scholars on the subject.
Encyclopedias
Topics
Abolition/anti-slavery
- National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, 2014
- Harrold, Stanley. American Abolitionism: Its Direct Political Impact from Colonial Times into Reconstruction (U of Virginia Press, 2019) online.
- Frederick Douglass Book Prize.
Agriculture/plantations
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2015
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2006
Constitution/law
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 1979
Economics/capitalism
Emancipation/freedom
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2011; Pulitzer Prize for History, 2011
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2020
Government/politics
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 2023
- Pulitzer Prize for History, 1979
Material culture
Native Americans
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2003
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2017
Proslavery
Race/racism
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1972
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1969; National Book Award for History and Biography, 1969
- National Book Award for Nonfiction, 2016
Slave trade
Religion
Rebellions/resistance
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 2015
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1994
- National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, 2006
Underground railroad
Women
- Bancroft Prize for American History, 1985
- National Book Award for Nonfiction, 2021
Primary sources
Abolition/anti-slavery
Biographies/narratives
- Credited with coining the term "Underground Railroad" a decade earlier
Proslavery
For younger readers
Notes