Cannibals all! or, Slaves without masters

by George Fitzhugh

"Cannibals All! or, Slaves Without Masters" by George Fitzhugh is a polemical treatise written in the mid-19th century. This work argues for the institution of slavery, positing that the conditions faced by free laborers in society are often worse than those experienced by slaves. Fitzhugh presents the concept of "white slavery," suggesting that capitalists exploit laborers more ruthlessly than slave owners treat their slaves. The opening of the book outlines Fitzhugh's key argument: that all individuals, particularly those in more privileged social classes, are complicit in a system that exploits those who labor while enriching those who do not. He uses stark language to challenge readers, accusing them of practicing a form of cannibalism by thriving off the unremunerated labor of others. He further elaborates on the dynamics of labor, capital, and social relations, suggesting that the capitalist system creates a situation where free laborers are left as "slaves without a master," burdened with responsibilities and cares that their slave counterparts are exempt from. This sets the stage for a broader critique of societal structures and the moral implications of economic systems, which Fitzhugh believes ultimately necessitate a re-evaluation of the institution of slavery itself.