Ben Waber reviewed Brethren by Nature by Margaret Ellen Newell
A Unique Examination of Early New England and Slavery
5 stars
This is an important look at early New England history and the origins of the American slavery system. Newell focuses on how English colonists, especially in Massachusetts, used legal, economic, and military methods to enslave Native Americans in the 17th century, experimenting with different approaches and even financializing the institution. She confronts head on the horrific nature of these practices and the heavy support of slavery practices by nearly all English colonial actors in Massachusetts. This is explored in much more detail than in other texts, and has profound implications for the development of colonial/Native American relations and how the systems that supported slavery were influenced by this early period. Highly recommend