This book completely rules. The periodization suggested by the title is a bit misleading, as the book is focused very heavily on 1800-1815, primarily on the War of 1812. That said, it provides great Big Picture coverage while humanizing its subject via an amazing set of records from one Tidewater plantation--ironically, the records were mostly collected by the slaveowner in an effort to secure federal compensation for the slaves liberated by the British during the war. White Virginians lived in fear that the people they enslaved would turn on them. They had reason to be afraid, not only of a violent uprising but also of the determination of enslaved people to escape bondage any way they could. Taylor opens a window onto enslaved people's resistance in Virginia during the War of 1812 and shows the processes by which several thousand enslaved people gained their freedom by siding with the British.
Verry interesting history, a little dry and repetitive in places but ok read
—rosestarr
While reading this book I began to I root for the British in the War of 1812
—lovelyyy
975.503 T2382 2013
—Metriod95
