© Posted on November 30, 2020, by Michael E. Newton.
Philo Hamilton and I are pleased to introduce version 2.0 of our essay “Opening a Door to Their Emancipation”: Alexander Hamilton and Slavery.
Some noteworthy changes include:
- A greatly expanded discussion of Alexander Hamilton’s position on the Peace Treaty of 1783, the return of formerly enslaved persons, and the Jay Treaty.
- Improved explanations of how Hamilton used his cash books.
- More details about Hamilton’s involvement with the Manumission Society.
- New section about “servants and maids” and Eliza’s role in managing the household.
- Correction regarding Angelica Church’s 1804 letter to her son Philip.
Update, December 21, 2020: Version 3.0 of our essay is now available. Some noteworthy additions and improvements include:
- John B. Church’s purchase of an enslaved woman in 1783 has been greatly improved.
- New section on Alexander Hamilton as president of the New York Manumission Society.
- New research regarding the 1790 U.S. Census and Alexander Hamilton.
- New section about the “the black man of” Alexander Hamilton, who died in the yellow-fever epidemic of 1798.
Click to access Opening-a-Door-to-Their-Emancipation-Alexander-Hamilton-and-Slavery-3.0.pdf
The original essay (version 1.0) is still available here.
Version 2.0 is available here.