Franklin, John Hope

From slavery to freedom describes the rise of slavery, the interaction of European and African cultures in the New World, and the emergence of a distinct culture and way of life among slaves and free Blacks. The authors examine the role of Blacks in the nation's wars, the rise of an articulate, restless free Black community by the end of the eighteenth century, and the growing resistance to slavery among an expanding segment of the Black population.

A study of runaway slaves in the years between 1790 and 1860, arguing that the majority of slaves struggled to attain their freedom even in the face of sure failure, and discussing the price they paid for their unwillingness to submit.

Biographical studies of fifteen twentieth-century African-American leaders.

"Chicago history of American civilization." Examines the reconstruction period and reduces the exaggerations of former views to a more credible picture.