The Internal Enemy

In this compelling narrative, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan Taylor explores the pivotal moments of slavery and freedom in the Chesapeake region during the early 19th century. Highlighting the experiences of enslaved individuals who saw British warships as symbols of hope, the story unfolds as they seek protection from the ravages of slavery, ultimately transforming the course of the War of 1812. Taylor draws on new sources to illustrate how their actions incited fears among slaveholders and contributed to a deepening sectional divide within the nation, echoing the prophetic warnings of Thomas Jefferson regarding the looming threat of disunion.