Expectations of freedom and slavery: solidarities, conflicts and uncertainties in the relations between masters and slaves (Porto Feliz, São Paulo, 1864-1888).
slavery, slave ownership, freedom, cronyism, lordship, social hierarchy
The research analyzes the relationships between masters, slaves and freedmen from the actions of freedom in the town of Porto Feliz during the second half of the 19th century. Therefore, it investigates how kinship ties and other forms of solidarity were of paramount importance to achieve freedom, or at least experience freedom. From the crossing of sources, social relations of those involved in freedom actions are apprehended beyond legal issues. Furthermore, the persistence of the slave system during the second half of the 19th century can be seen, despite the emergence and intensification of emancipatory and abolitionist ideas. In this sense, it appears that small possessions of slaves predominated, whose masters were largely responsible for sustaining slave values. The research was conducted based on the crossing of information from the records of freedom, parish baptism, marriage and death records, post-mortem inventories and newspapers.