Robert Watson: America’s First Plague & When Washington Burned

Alper Jewish Community Center Miami is hosting a discussion of two historically significant crises in U.S. history.

Award-winning author, professor and historian Robert Watson will discuss two of his novels, firstly America’s First Plague: The Deadly 1793 Epidemic that Crippled a Young Nation. This long-forgotten crisis captures the wave of fear that swept across the new nation and the far-reaching consequences it would have on the development of the U.S. and the Atlantic slave trade. Secondly, ‘When Washington Burned: The British Invasion of the Capital and a Nation’s Rise from the Ashes‘ describes the events of August 24, 1814, a critical day that posed a significant threat to the survival of the young nation, as British forces captured Washington. This unique book describes the British campaign and American missteps as well as the courageous people, including the first lady, who risked their lives to save priceless documents.

Kaufman Rossin is a proud sponsor of this event.