The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America 1638-1870

William E. B. Du Bois's groundbreaking historical study, The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America 1638-1870, traces the complex legal and economic forces that shaped America's involvement in one of history's darkest chapters. Published in 1896 as the first volume of the Harvard Historical Studies series, this meticulously researched work examines colonial statutes, Congressional documents, and firsthand accounts to illuminate how the slave trade rose, persisted, and eventually faced suppression across more than two centuries. Du Bois navigates the intricate connections between the trade's expansion, the entrenchment of American slavery as an institution, and eighteenth-century colonial policy, revealing how economic interests and legal frameworks intertwined to perpetuate human exploitation. Drawing on nearly complete collections of laws and historical documents, he analyzes restrictions imposed by individual colonies—from Georgia and South Carolina to Virginia and Maryland—while grappling with the economic realities often obscured by official records. This landmark work remains essential for understanding how political, legal, and commercial systems enabled and eventually curtailed the transatlantic slave trade in America. Perfect for history students, scholars, and anyone seeking a rigorous, foundational examination of American slavery's origins and suppression, Du Bois's authoritative analysis continues to shape how we comprehend this defining period of national history.