Creating a Common Law of Slavery for England and its New World Empire

The current historical consensus is that English common law was somewhat confused, but coerced servitude legal in England before 1772, and certainly its empire, where on slavery did not reach, because it “beyond the line” of justice. characterized by an effort to see continuity consistency, historians (despite our natural desire track change) often look for those patterns too. Such efforts provide a consistent overview free colonies created their own—have obscured vibrant struggle over within judicial system—the law—over more than century. Not only change profoundly during seventeenth eighteenth centuries: became instrument crown policy. It so federal wherein colonial norms had adhere, crucial ways, law. high court judges thus provided foundation imperial allowed people be deemed absolute property. That definition as property closely connected absolutism, both theory practice. In power kings subjects masters slaves. practice, crown's use courts create laws without parliamentary consent (to bypass parliament) also increased revenue independence from control. These powerful mechanisms made possible “recover” enslaved assets debts, essential market function sucessfully. This history reveals absolutist character early capitalism, extent which capitalist development depends rules define markets