From the cover:
Emphasizing social and cultural history, Mr. McCloy closely examines the institution of slavery as it existed in the French colonies, especially the Code Noir which greatly influenced the relations between the slaves and their masters. Although the early period of slavery was characterized by much harshness – cases of incendiarism and poisoning on the part of the slaves and punitive reprisals by the masters – the period did see the rise of a large class of mulattoes, many of whom became wealthy and slave owners themselves, and of a smaller number of free Negroes who entered the military service, the trades, and business. From both of these groups emerged leaders who were to take an active part in political life and in the assertion of Negro rights.
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