Delve into the radical ideology of the Old American South with this pivotal historical study. Elizabeth Fox-Genovese masterfully explores the doctrine of ‘Slavery in the Abstract,’ where enslavers championed slavery as the optimal condition for all labor, even as they saw the free-labor system faltering. This profound analysis investigates how different social classes within the South perceived this extreme viewpoint, examining the intricate interplay of class and race in forging a unique social order. Essential reading for history students, scholars, and anyone seeking to understand the deep roots of American social and economic structures.