Under a Veil of Benevolence

Pasquale De Marco

Summary

In this groundbreaking work, Pasquale De Marco offers a fresh perspective on the history of slavery in the United States, exploring the complex interplay between ideology, politics, and economics that sustained the peculiar institution. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, Pasquale De Marco argues that slaveholders were not simply motivated by greed, but also by a deeply ingrained belief in the superiority of the white race.

Slaveholders constructed an elaborate ideology to justify their actions, one that was rooted in paternalism, racism, and a distorted interpretation of Christianity. They argued that slavery was a necessary evil, essential for maintaining social order and economic prosperity. They claimed that slaves were inferior beings, incapable of caring for themselves, and that slavery was a benevolent institution that provided them with food, shelter, and protection.

Pasquale De Marco challenges these claims, demonstrating how the institution of slavery was a system of exploitation and oppression that dehumanized slaves and denied them their basic rights. He also explores the impact of slavery on the white population of the South, showing how it created a herrenvolk democracy in which white men enjoyed a privileged status based on their race.

This book is a major contribution to our understanding of slavery in the United States. It is a work of meticulous scholarship that sheds new light on one of the darkest chapters in American history. Pasquale De Marco has written a book that is both provocative and insightful, a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the legacy of slavery in America.

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Available since: 06/02/2025.

Print length: 160 pages.

Humanities & Social Sciences

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