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
Regions The North
The South
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
Pulitzer Prize for History, 2014
Historical eras Colonial Era: 16th century—1776
Revolutionary Era: 1776—early 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: 1850s—1870s
National Book Award for History (paperback), 1981; Pulitzer Prize for History,1980
Pulitzer Prize for History, 1977
Reconstruction/Jim Crow Eras: 1870s—1965
Biographies
National Book Award for Nonfiction, 1998
Pulitzer Prize for History, 2019; Bancroft Prize for American History, 2019
Pulitzer Prize for History, 1982
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.
1st of 5 volumes
2nd of 5 volumes
Frederick Douglass Book Prize.
Agriculture/plantations
Bancroft Prize for American History, 2015
Constitution/law
Pulitzer Prize for History, 1979
Economics/capitalism
Emancipation/freedom
Bancroft Prize for American History, 2011; Pulitzer Prize for History, 2011
Government/politics
Pulitzer Prize for History, 2023
Pulitzer Prize for History, 1979
Material culture
Native Americans
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
Slave trade
Religion
Rebellions/resistance
Basis for the film Amistad
Bancroft Prize for American History, 1994
National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, 2006
Underground railroad
Women
Bancroft Prize for American History, 1985
Primary sources
Abolition/anti-slavery
Biographies/narratives
Credited with coining the term "Underground Railroad" a decade earlier
Proslavery
For younger readers
Notes