Convict Servitude, Authority, and the Rise of Humanitarianism in the Anglo-American World, 1718-1809

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Convict Servitude, Authority, and the Rise of Humanitarianism in the Anglo-American World, 1718-1809 ABSTRACT THE “VILE COMMODITY”: CONVICT SERVITUDE, AUTHORITY, AND THE RISE OF HUMANITARIANISM IN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN WORLD, 1718-1809 Nicole K. Dressler, Ph.D. Department of History Northern Illinois University, 2018 Aaron S. Fogleman, Director This dissertation examines the role that British convict transportation and penal servitude in America played in the early history of humanitarianism. During the eighteenth century, Britons and American’s ideas about moral obligations and suffering changed drastically toward traditionally detested people, including transported convicts, African slaves, sailors, and the poor. Many histories of humanitarianism and human rights have glazed over the subject’s early modern roots; however, more recently scholars have challenged the unilinear and inevitably triumphal narrative of human rights cultures and launched new investigations into the historical foundations of the movement. This study argues that emerging ideas of punishment, morality, and unfreedom evoked by convict labor created new moral responsibilities, widened the plane of sympathies, and inspired novel denunciations of suffering in eighteenth- and early nineteenth- century Anglo-American culture. It uses legal and judicial records, public commentaries, and the papers of prominent reformers in London and the three colonies (later states) that imported the most convicts on the North American mainland, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. It traces the attitudes, ethics, and practices regarding penal servitude from 1718, following a new British law that ushered in an era of massive convict transportation, through the American Revolution and into the early Republic period. The study shows how labor systems as a whole played an unrecognized, critical role and influenced early modern abolitionist and moralist thinking and rhetoric. In the eighteenth century, transportation and penal servitude generated new critiques and initiated debates about the proper role of punishment and labor in enlightened societies. By the end of the first decade of the nineteenth century, moralists and reformers increasingly used humanitarian discourse to improve the lives of those once unquestionably despised people, like criminals and enslaved Africans. This new discursive environment helped reformers and moralists to galvanize early republicans in order to tackle new humanitarian challenges – challenges that would not fit easily into a narrative of inevitable progress – and advocate for more humane legal and cultural changes in the new nation. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DE KALB, ILLINOIS DECEMBER 2018 THE “VILE COMMODITY”: CONVICT SERVITUDE, AUTHORITY, AND THE RISE OF HUMANITARIANISM IN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN WORLD, 1718-1809 BY NICOLE K. DRESSLER © 2018 Nicole K. Dressler A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Doctoral Director: Aaron S. Fogleman ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many eighteenth-century convict laborers were people who fell into some kind of debt, and I too am indebted to numerous people who have supported me and my research. Firstly, I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Aaron Fogleman. He encouraged me to “think big,” while giving me an immense amount of room to wander intellectually. I pursued a number of historical questions that intrigued me, and his sage counsel, generous feedback, and support has taught me to be a better researcher and teacher. His patience, enthusiasm for the field, and encouragement has inspired his students to learn so much more about the topics that make history incredibly rich. And, I am better for it. I am also very grateful to my dissertation committee. Sean Farrell offered me wise guidance and direction, especially when I needed it the most. I aspire to be the attentive and generous scholar and mentor he is. Heide Fehrenbach has supported my project from the start with a keen eye and fruitful, constructive feedback – the kind that is both enriching and didactic. Her ability to let a project blossom has inspired me (and her students), and I hope that I can help my own students develop their thoughtful inquiries the way she allowed us to do so. Jim Schmidt encouraged me to ask the important questions of both a scholar and teacher. Our rich conversations and his wealth of knowledge broadened my own intellectual curiosity, and he gave me great insight on how to research and teach the topics that matter the most. Along the way, I have had a number of mentors and colleagues who have offered invaluable critique and support. I wish to thank Jane Merritt, John Donoghue, Beatrix Hoffman, iii Valerie Garver, Stan Arnold, Fabian Klose, Andrew Thompson, Johannes Paulmann, Wayne Bodle, Rosemarie Zaggari, Kathleen Brown, Andy Shankman, Sally Hadden, Adrianna Link, Laura Spero, Brian Bates, Jim Jordan, David Coles, Ian Saxine, Anthony di Lorenzo, Michael Goode, Kristen Beales, Crystal Webster, Nicholas Bonneau, Yevan Terrien, Peter Kotowski, Michael Blaakman, Justin Iverson, Wayne Duerkes, Ian Burns, Ben Schmack, BJ Marach, and JoAnn Fleming. They have all fostered the intellectual and collegiate environment to think about and pursue the important topics that make historians’ work so rewarding. I have also received generous financial support for my project and fruitful guidance from archive and library personnel. My profound gratitude goes to Northern Illinois University’s Department of History and Graduate School, the McNeil Center for Early Studies for the Advisory Council Dissertation Fellowship, the Library Company of Philadelphia for the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the American Philosophical Society for the Library Resident Research Fellowship, and the Global Humanitarianism Research Academy in Mainz, Germany and Geneva, Switzerland. I am also greatly appreciative for help that the staff, personnel, and scholars at these institutions and repositories offered me while completing my research. I presented earlier versions of my work at the American Historical Association, the Department of History at Northern Illinois University, and the English Atlantic Writing Group of Loyola University Chicago. The panelists, audience members, and colleagues provided new ideas and greatly appreciated feedback. The ideas stemming from the rich intellectual conversations I had with them are stamped throughout this project. iv Along the journey, I have been lucky to have had generous friends who gave me moral support and helped me balance my monk-like time in the office with vibrant conversations and new adventures. From the start, Katharine McConnell has given me so much encouragement, and she has so graciously helped me move (several times) for new opportunities in my field. With boundless compassion, she ensures that those around her have a fun environment to learn and grow – reminding us all “to slow down, at all of our favorite parts.” I am also deeply grateful to Brittany Evans. She offered warm encouragement, vibrant and witty conversations, and a perceptive ear when I needed to talk through my research issues or personal experiences – her wise words have changed my life for the better. Greg Amodeo, with all of his astute insight, pushed me to think harder and further about the topics that mean the most, and I am grateful for our invigorating conversations and the revitalizing excursions in Norfolk. It is difficult to do graduate work without the support of incredible friends, and I also want to thank Jeff Eubank, Daniel Darrach, Andrew Thalheimer, Tony English, Lia Harmon, Jennifer Wilson, Colleen Copp, Christyne Matyseck, Skip Novak, Joe Henry, and Nate Facchina. I cherish their vibrant insight, kindness, and companionship, which has made all the difference. I also want to express my gratitude to my family for all their support and love, which is too much to adequately mention here. I want to especially thank two people for whom the dissertation is dedicated. My dad, Ed Dressler, offered unwavering support throughout all of my academic endeavors. With his brilliant attention to detail and his unflagging delivery of the unvarnished truth, he enlightens us all with sage words, humor, and advice on how to overcome obstacles and enjoy the ride. This dissertation is also dedicated to my extraordinary grandmother, Jennifer Phillips, who passionately molded hard work, independence, and the pursuit of v happiness. My wonderful sister, Charlene Dressler, is wise beyond her years. I cannot thank her enough for her patience, thoughtful insight, and her endeavors to ensure my short breaks from work were both warming and reenergizing. My youngest brother and mother, Max and Julia Dressler, are models for us all on how to balance hard work with good fun, and they have taught me so much about living a fruitful, rewarding life. My dissertation is in part, dedicated to the memory of my brother, Eddie Dressler (1987-2018). With such passionate curiosity, shrewd advice, and clever humor, he always encouraged the people around him to better themselves, even when things were difficult. For that, and so much more, I am forever grateful. In closing, these kinds of debts can never truly be repaid. I hope that my deep gratitude will suffice for the love, support, and encouragement I have received from so many generous people whom I admire. DEDICATION To Ed Dressler and Jennifer Phillips & in memory of Eddie Dressler TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ……………………………………………………………………….… viii
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