The War of 1812 wasn’t sailors’ rights — it was empire.

Think you know why the War of 1812 started? Most people believe it was all about the Royal Navy “pressing” innocent American sailors. Historian Matt Taylor calls nonsense on that myth – and reveals how the real story is far darker, and far more explosive.

Paul Bavill is joined by Matt Taylor, author of Black Redcoats, to uncover the hidden narratives of the War of 1812. From the forgotten African Americans who fought for Britain to the political smokescreens that dragged America into war, Matt shatters the schoolbook version of this conflict.

Highlights include:

• The Real Cause of War – Forget sailors’ rights: the United States launched the war as an imperialist grab for territory, land, and dominance over Native Americans.
• Black Redcoats & the Colonial Marines – Enslaved African Americans who escaped to British lines were armed, uniformed, and helped tear apart America’s defenses. Their presence led directly to the collapse at Bladensburg and the burning of Washington.
• The Psychological Bombshell – Fear of slave uprisings paralysed militias, making the Chesapeake campaigns devastatingly effective.
• Aftermath & Legacy – From the unique “company villages” in Trinidad that still survive today, to the tragic destruction of Negro Fort in Florida, the legacy of the Black Redcoats still reverberates.
• The Human Story – Meet Fernando, enslaved, freed, re-enslaved by Andrew Jackson, and finally liberated – choosing to carry the name of the British officer who once commanded him.

This episode doesn’t just retell history – it rips apart comfortable myths and shows how race, freedom, and empire collided in ways that shaped nations. If you want history with bite, this is it.

📚 Connect with Matt Taylor

• Buy the book: Black Redcoats: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399034012
• Follow Matt on Social Media: [@BlackRedcoats]

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Join us as we rage against the myths of the War of 1812 and rediscover the extraordinary African Americans who fought for freedom.

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