Slavery

James and Lois Horton, authors of "Slavery and the Making of America"

Slavery was the dominant economic engine of early America. It was present in every region and by the mid-19th century exceeded every other "product" in its monetary value to the society. Given that slavery in America lasted from 1619 to 1865 and was a direct contradiction of professed national values it is clearly the central narrative of American history. This is the argument of James and Lois Horton who documented it in this conversation.