The Slaves' Gamble : Choosing Sides in the War of 1812 (Hardcover)

from CharlesSvec

For the most part I really enjoyed reading this book. I'll admit that I have limited knowledge about the War of 1812, and this book definitely helped expand my knowledge of the war. It was interesting reading about the war from a different perspective. I couldn't give it 5 stars for 2 reasons - a...

from Shrike58

I'm not sure that I have much to add over and above what the other reviewers have spoken of. I will say that the portion dealing with the Florida Patriot War was the most informative for me personally, and makes me want to know more about Hispano-American jockeying for the region.

from schwager

This 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 American Society which influenced race relations for years to come. It is a scholarly work, and is...

from AdamRackis

Gene Allen Smith's "The Slaves' Gamble" chronicles the lives and decisions many black Americans, both slave and free, faces during the War of 1812. Smith starts by showing the radically different relationship slaves had with their masters in the 17th and 18th century: it was not uncommon for mast...

from

One problem of a slave-based economy is that it can be susceptible to subversion by an invading force pandering to the slave's desires. As most desire freedom, one British strategy during the War of 1812 (referred as "a stupid war fought by stupid people" by Colonel John Elting) was to offer free...