Canney focuses on the American naval squadron designated to patrol for slave traders. His main focus in on the period after the Webster-Ashburton treaty of 1842 which committed the U.S. to maintain a squadron of no less than 80 guns. He argues against the perception that the commanders of the squadron were sympathetic to the slave because of their southern roots. Instead, he views the ineffectiveness of the Squadron as stemming from lack of resources and contradictory instructions. He argues that the resources given to the Squadron were completely inadequate to the task, with so much African coastline and so few ships. In addition, it could only seize ships with U.S. flags. The orders for the squadron also hampered its effectiveness. Suppressing the slave trade was only one component, with higher priority given to promoting overall commerce.

Although the focus is after 1842, he gives a good, if somewhat brief, discussion of the developments leading to the treaty. It focused on the conflict between the American and British governments over the right of British ships to search American ships. He says that public pressure caused the U.S. to conced something to the British to help suppress the slave trade, although he does not go into great detail.

This is the only booklength discussion I have seen of U.S. efforts at suppression. It is very well done, although its focus on commanders correspondence and journals puts more emphasis on the African side with some gaps in American and British politics. It gives some coverage to that, but is not nearly comprehensive on those issues. ( )