History Prof. Gene Smith has a statue of Patrick Henry on his desk, a picture of George Washington on his shelf, and paintings of wooden war ships on the walls.

He’s made a career of studying how wars and the military affected life during the early years of our new republic. He has a spot on his wall for another picture, one he can’t seem to find.

One that might not exist — an artist’s depiction of one of the thousands of black soldiers who fought for U.S., British or Spanish armies in the 18th or 19th centuries.

“African Americans made a valuable contribution to various war efforts on both sides of the conflict,” Smith said. “But despite their belief they were fighting for their own freedom, they actually only opened the door to future race-relation problems in the U.S.”

It’s a phenomenon that will be explained in a book Smith is working on, Sons of Liberty: Race, Liberty, and Power During the War of 1812.

His research paints a sad picture of exploitation and dashed expectations. Smith believes that slavery in this country may have ended sooner had the U.S. not been involved in the War of 1812.

Slavery was first brought to America in 1619 when about 100 slaves were deposited in Virginia. But as the country moved toward independence in the next century, slavery became less financially viable. By the late 1700s, slavery was on the wane in the North.

When Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, his “equality” extended only to white, land-owning males. But soon equality included all white males and ideas about freedom and civic participation began to settle into the country’s conscience.

“I’ve discovered that to understand the history of African Americans is to talk about more than just slavery,” he said. “It’s a story of civic obligations and daily lives.

The blacks that served were not only fighting with the hope of gaining their individual freedom, they were fighting for the right to participate in the community as equals.”

Unfortunately, that’s not what happened.

The rapid opening of vast tracts of land after the War of 1812 only cemented Southern attitudes toward slavery. Lands were now available for cotton farming. And harvesting cotton was labor-intensive. Slavery was not only desirable, it was necessary.

“This provided a new impetus for slavery,” Smith said. “The economic motive was lost in the North, but the South now had financial reasons for the continued growth and expansion of slavery.”

During the Battle of New Orleans, the last great battle of the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson gathered a contingent of black soldiers, whom he referred to as the “sturdy sons of freedom.”

A poignant term, Smith said.

“It was one of those times when the institution of slavery was relegated toward greater goals — goals of freedom for the United States,” he said. “Those ‘sons of freedom’ were giving their lives for the rights of the citizenry, but until they got their own freedom, those doors were closed to them.”