1812
The War of 1812
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4.2 • 86 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
“Without question this is the best popular account of the last war fought between the United States and Great Britain. . . . In a gripping narrative the author not only explains the importance of the War of 1812 but vividly recreates its exciting land and sea battles.” —Robert V. Remini, author of The Life of Andrew Jackson
Although frequently overlooked between the American Revolution and the Civil War, the War of 1812 tested a rising generation of American leaders; unified the United States with a renewed sense of national purpose; and set the stage for westward expansion from Mackinac Island to the Gulf of Mexico. USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," proved the mettle of the fledgling American navy; Oliver Hazard Perry hoisted a flag boasting, "Don't Give Up the Ship"; and Andrew Jackson's ragged force stood behind it's cotton bales at New Orleans and bested the pride of British regulars.
Here are the stories of commanding generals such as America's double-dealing James Wilkinson, Great Britain's gallant Sir Isaac Brock, Canada's heroine farm wife Laura Secord, and country doctor William Beanes, whose capture set the stage for Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." During the War of 1812, the United States cast off its cloak of colonial adolescence and—with both humiliating and glorious moments—found the fire that was to forge a nation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This thoroughly readable popular history of the War of 1812 may exaggerate in its claim that the war forged America's national identity; after all, there were enough regional identities left lying around after the conflict to cause a national civil war. But otherwise it's a fine narrative history that traces the major of events of the war, from the preliminary plots by James Wilkinson and Aaron Burr that revealed the ambitions of Westerners for territorial expansion, through New England's secessionist Hartford Convention to the Battle of New Orleans, which wrapped up the war in 1815. Borneman makes clear that the performance of the American army was mostly disgraceful, that the Canadians can pat themselves on the back for courage and endurance and that the decisive victory of the American navy was not the famous frigate duels but the Battle of Lake Champlain in 1814. Borneman (Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land) is also strong in vivid personal portraits (the gigantic Winfield Scott and the diminutive and sickly James Madison) and evenhanded as far as atrocities (too many, by all parties) are concerned. Even the annotation and bibliography of this sound introduction will propel those whose curiosity is piqued to read further in all directions.
Customer Reviews
War of 1812
Very enjoyable and educational read!
Details
The book goes into many small details that unless you are a true historian are irrelevant to the story. I got lost with too many names of people who turn out to be irrelevant in the course of history.
Good history lesson
Borneman does a great job of bringing lesser-known history to the fore. All I ever really learned about the War of 1812 was the British burning Washington, DC, and the naval battles. This book includes the land battles, most of which the Americans fumbled, and details of the naval clashes, which established America as a dominant force. He also clearly lays out the politics behind the impetus for war, and the aftermath. The War of 1812 is really what started the US on the path as a world power.