Thread. 3 core drivers of early abolitionism: American Quakers, British evangelical Christians, & American revolutionary rhetoric. US revolution influenced those in Haiti & Latin America. US abolitionist themes influenced emancipation of Russian serfs. https://twitter.com/CarlPaulus/status/1108200673244577793 …
-
This Tweet is unavailable.Show this thread
-
As I've noted before, the American Revolutionary generation took a number of major steps against slavery.https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/11/john-kelly-civil-war-debate-tim-kaine-america-slavery/ …
29 replies 74 retweets 305 likesShow this thread -
For an example of the influence of American abolitionism on forced labor abroad, consider Egypt. The corvee system of forced labor carried on the tradition back to the pyramids of slavery & forced labor in Egypt.
1 reply 0 retweets 11 likesShow this thread -
By the 19th century, the corvee was used for periodic episodes of forced labor on whatever projects the Egyptian leaders (or their Ottoman overlords) wanted. For the Suez Canal project, the Pasha forced masses of Egyptian labor to support the French dig.
1 reply 0 retweets 9 likesShow this thread -
European opinion, especially in Britain, was outraged, but the dig went on - but as soon as news reached Egypt of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, the new Pasha ended the corvee on the Suez Canal. The French were forced to switch to steam-fed machines to dig.
1 reply 0 retweets 10 likesShow this thread -
The new Pasha had his own motives as well & didn't end the corvee on all Egyptian projects, but it was Lincoln's act that gave him cover to withdraw the forced labor of Egyptian peasant farmers & let them return to their families.
1 reply 0 retweets 8 likesShow this thread
Eventually the British takeover of Egypt in 1882 eliminated the corvee entirely, consistent with the British attitude towards slavery worldwide. But in 1863, the influence of American example was a prominent part of the story.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.