‘Peonage’: 19th-Century New Mexico and the History of Colonial Spain’s Debt Enslavement
A system inherited from colonial Spain kept Americans in servitude even after the Civil War. Imagine a time and place where a small debt—even just a few dollars—could translate into a lifetime of servitude not only for the debtor, but also for his or her children. For much of the 19th century, the American Southwest[…]