Full Citation

Title: The Promise of Freedom: Fertility Decisions and the Escape from Slavery

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2015

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Abstract: This paper examines how fertility of enslaved women was affected by the promise of freedom. Exploiting geographic variation in the affect of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, I demonstrate a negative correlation between fertility and the distance to freedom. This negative correlation is stronger on larger plantations but weaker when the slaveholder is female. A similar correlation is not present for white children, slave children with white fathers, or for slave children born prior to the Fugitive Slave Law. The negative correlation suggests the promise of freedom played an important role in the everyday lives of slaves.

Url: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/REST_a_00466#.U_TODPldV8E

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Authors: Allen, Treb

Periodical (Full): The Review of Economic and Statistics

Issue: 2

Volume: 97

Pages: 472-484

Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Fertility and Mortality, Race and Ethnicity

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