The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812Images of American slavery conjure up cotton plantations and African American slaves locked in bondage until the Civil War. Yet early on in the nineteenth century the state of slavery was very different, and the political vicissitudes of the young nation offered diverse possibilities to slaves. In the century's first two decades, the nation waged war against Britain, Spain, and various Indian tribes. Slaves played a role in the military operations, and the different sides viewed them as a potential source of manpower. While surprising numbers did assist the Americans, the wars created opportunities for slaves to find freedom among the Redcoats, the Spaniards, or the Indians. Author Gene Smith draws on a decade of original research and his curatorial work at the Fort Worth Museum in this fascinating and original narrative history. The way the young nation responded sealed the fate of slaves for the next half century until the Civil War. This drama sheds light on an extraordinary yet little known chapter in the dark saga of American history. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - schwager - LibraryThingThis is an important work of the history of slavery and the War of 1812. I think Smith did an excellent job of explaining how fear of slave rebellions during this period had a longstanding impact on ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - hadden - LibraryThingAn interesting examinination of the issue of slavery during the early years of the republic. Written in an interesting and informal style, the book is composed of a number of anecdotes and biographies ... Read full review
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aboard African Americans American Slaves April arms army attack August Augustine Baltimore Barney’s Bathurst battle Bermuda Biassou black militia black sailors black soldiers black troops blacks and slaves Britain British forces British officers British ships campaign Canada Capt Captain captured Chesapeake citizens city’s Coast Cochrane’s Colonial Marines commanded Cumberland Island Dartmoor Dartmoor Prison December defenses Detroit East Florida enlisted evacuated fighting fled free blacks freedom freemen of color frontier George George Cockburn Georgia governor Gulf Historical Hull Ireland Island Jackson James January John join July Kindelán land Louisiana Madison March Maryland masters Michigan Territory military militiamen Native Americans Naval Navy Negro Negro Fort North Orleans Patriot Perry plantation prisoners raids recruited refugees River Robert Royal Marines Museum runaway slaves Seminoles September Sherbrooke slave insurrection slavery South Carolina southern Spanish Florida Tangier Island territory Trinidad United University Press Virginia Warren Washington William Witten York
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812 |
| Author | Gene Allen Smith |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press, 2013 |
| ISBN | 1137310081, 9781137310088 |
| Length | 272 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / African American History / Military / War of 1812 History / United States / 19th Century Social Science / Slavery |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |