Title Under the flags of freedom : slave soldiers and the wars of independence in Spanish South America / Peter Blanchard

Published Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania : University of Pittsburgh Press, 2008 ©2008

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Description 1 online resource (255 pages) : illustrations, maps Series Pitt Latin American Series Pitt Latin American series. Contents A historical tradition -- Serving the king in Venezuela and New Granada -- Fighting for the patria in the Río de la Plata -- Changing loyalties in the North -- Controlling slave recruitment in Chile and Peru -- Recruitment and resistance -- The personal war of slave women -- The survival of slavery Summary During the wars for independence in Spanish South America (1808-1826), thousands of slaves enlisted under the promise of personal freedom and, in some cases, freedom for other family members. Blacks were recruited by opposing sides in these conflicts and their loyalties rested with whomever they believed would emerge victorious. The prospect of freedom was worth risking one's life for, and wars against Spain presented unprecedented opportunities to attain it. Much hedging over the slavery issue continued, however, even after the patriots came to power. The prospect of abolition threatened existing political, economic, and social structures, and the new leaders would not encroach upon what were still considered the property rights of powerful slave owners. The patriots attacked the institution of slavery in their rhetoric, yet maintained the status quo in the new nations. It was not until a generation later that slavery would be declared illegal in all of Spain's former mainland colonies. Through extensive archival research, Blanchard assembles an accessible, comprehensive, and broadly based study to investigate this issue from the perspectives of Royalists, patriots, and slaves. He examines the wartime political, ideological, and social dynamics that led to slave recruitment, and the subsequent repercussions in the immediate postindependence era. Under the Flags of Freedom sheds new light on the vital contribution of slaves to the wars for Latin American independence, which, up until now, has been largely ignored in the histories and collective memories of these nations Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL English Print version record digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL Subject Soldiers, Black -- South America -- History -- 19th century Enslaved persons -- South America -- History -- 19th century HISTORY -- Latin America -- General. HISTORY -- Latin America -- South America. HISTORY -- General. Enslaved persons Soldiers, Black SUBJECT South America -- History -- Wars of Independence, 1806-1830. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85125532 Subject South America Genre/Form History Form Electronic book ISBN 9780822973423 0822973421 0822959925 9780822959922

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