The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772–1832 by Alan Taylor

The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772–1832, by Alan Taylor, explores the complex relationship between slavery and civil war in the history of Virginia’s mainland colonies. It focuses on the plight of the enslaved Virginians, their struggle against captivity, and the way these struggles transformed their culture and relationships with the white population.

Virginia was the epicenter of the American Revolution, yet the Revolution brought few gains to its slaves. Instead, the American Revolution signaled a reorganization of slavery in Virginia, a reorganization characterized by larger plantations, harsher laws, and more profitable businesses. Virginia was the first American colony to experience a full fledged urban rebellious slave revolt, while the region also had some of the earliest and most explicit laws restricting the freedom of black slaves. With the dawn of the 19th century, segregation and the prospect of complete separation from the white population became increasingly likely.

In The Internal Enemy, Taylor examines how slavery shaped the Civil War that began in Virginia in 1786. He traces how warring veterans, fleeing rebels, panicking white militias, rampaging Indian warriors, and mainly desperate and determined runaway slaves all played a vital role in tipping the balance in favor of the Confederacy. Taylor explains how the continuity of white rule in the region enabled continuous warfare, both against the Native Americans and enslaved primary actors.

Taylor also focuses on the intricate, clandestine networks of enslaved people in Virginia – from free black slaves to the leaders of slave insurrection and those who rejected their compliance. He explains the vital role of the Richmond network, which stored, protected and transmitted information, often via secret codes, between the enslaved and their allies in the white population.

The Internal Enemy sheds light on the impact of the economy and society that enslaved Virginians had on the outcome of the war. Taylor argues that the black population was essential in creating an insurgency, one that used mobility and improvisation to outmaneuver the more powerful numbers of slaves.

The Internal Enemy delves into the complex ways in which the struggle to overcome slavery spurred a sense of national unity in Virginia. By highlighting the endurance and the courage of thousands of oppressed people, Taylor shows how the Civil War began to be seen as a way for slaves to gain their freedom. He also reveals how race and class intersections played into their strategies for freedom, and how these struggles were legitimized after the war.

In The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772–1832, Alan Taylor presents a compelling account of the ways in which slavery and the Civil War entwined to profoundly shape the society of Virginia. Through engaging vignettes and insightful analysis, Taylor effectively captures how the enslaved Virginians persevered and pushed for freedom, often in opposition to the dictates of their enslavers. This insightful and thought-provoking work is an essential read for those looking to deepen their understanding of slavery and the Civil War in Virginia.