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Apr 3Liked by BCD

I have a Grand Theory about Britain in the 1700s and 1800s: they had a lot of colonial mass outside the tropics, while the other great power were almost entirely in the tropics. Slavery can be very profitable in the tropics, but not so much outside it, for various logistical reasons around keeping slaves from escaping. By banning slavery, and enforcing it with their navy, the Brits applied a lot of pain to their competitors, and to the new USA, without undergoing much pain themselves.

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Apr 4Author

Similar to the Factory Acts in that way.

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Apr 6Liked by BCD

Ah! My grandfather was a beneficiary of the Factory Acts (or their successors). Born mid 1870s near Glasgow, free "compulsory education" for a whole four years, went down the coal mines at age 10, came to the US alone at 16 shoveling coal in the bowels of a steamer. Very smart guy, taught himself completely, ended up managing oil drilling platforms for BP in the 30s in Southeast Asia. When the Japanese invaded from the North, coming downriver, he was ordered to destroy the platforms. He and his crews then bolted downstream ahead of them, destroying oil well infrastructure on the way. I never met him, or my other old grandparents.

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Apr 6Author

Fascinating!

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