Slavery in Florida: Territorial Days to Emancipation

by Larry Eugene Rivers

Winner
• The Black Caucus of the American Library Association Nonfiction Book Award
• The Tampa Bay Historical Society's D. B. McKay Award
• The Florida Historical Society's Rembert Patrick Award for Best Book in Florida History
 
"A thoroughly researched and balanced account of the slave experience in Florida." -- Journal of American History
 
"The greater social and economic freedom born of Spanish influence and close relationships between rebellious blacks and Seminoles set the stage for the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. A fascinating account of a variant experience of an institution too often viewed from a single perspective." -- Booklist
 
"Rivers takes a very close look at slave society from various angles, as he evaluates not only slave life but the interaction of whites, blacks, and Indians. . . . Makes for a rich and multi-layered history." -- Southern Historian
 
"Shows how slavery differed dramatically in different regions of the state and how, in fact, it evolved over the years in those areas." -- Tallahassee Democrat
 
"Addresses how Florida’s history and geography produced conditions unlike those elsewhere in the American South." -- Journal of Southern History
 

Genres: Nonfiction, History

386 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book to prepare to read Dr. Rivers's most recent work, "Father James Page," and am quite happy that I did. Seldom have I encountered a work of historical research that seems as fair as this one, and the primary source material Dr. Rivers has used is quite impressive. The increasing weight of facts, stated without personal comment, leads the reader to strong comprehension of the history of enslavement of African Americans in Florida. Personal assessment: This book should be required reading certainly in all African American Studies programs in colleges and universities, and possibly in American history classes in general. My compliments and appreciation are extended to the author.

[MARY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heavy and important read, but within the reach of most people. I learned a lot about the differences in slavery between East, Middle, and West Florida. Excellent book.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent text for research. I was pleased at how many of Dr. Rivers' source texts I have on my shelves already (The Rose Cottage Chronicles, Cracker Times And Pioneer Lives: The Florida Reminiscences Of George Gillett Keen And Sarah Pamela Williams, Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley: African Princess, Florida Slave, Plantation Slaveowner, Echoes from a Distant Frontier: The Brown Sisters' Correspondence from Antebellum Florida).

Slavery in Florida is a valuable and necessary addition to any research on antebellum Florida. I especially noted the point that the Second Seminole War was as much a slave revolt as an Indian uprising, something I tried to bring forward when writing Smuggler's Bride.

[Amy Hoodock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a great deal from this comprehensive and engaging history of slavery in Florida.