In June 1812 the still-infant United States had the audacity to declare war on the British Empire. Fought between creaking sailing ships and armies often led by bumbling generals, the ensuing conflict featured a tit-for-tat “You burned our capital, so we’ll burn yours” and a legendary battle unknowingly fought after the signing of a peace treaty.During the course of the war, the young American … American navy proved its mettle as the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” sent two first-rate British frigates to the bottom, and a twenty-seven-year-old lieutenant named Oliver Hazard Perry hoisted a flag exhorting, “Don’t Give Up the Ship,” and chased the British from Lake Erie. By 1814, however, the United States was no longer fighting for free trade, sailors’ rights, and as much of Canada as it could grab, but for its very existence as a nation. With Washington in flames, only a valiant defense at Fort McHenry saved Baltimore from a similar fate.
Here are the stories of commanding generals such as America’s Henry “Granny” Dearborn, double-dealing James Wilkinson, and feisty Andrew Jackson, as well as Great Britain’s gallant Sir Isaac Brock, overly cautious Sir George Prevost, and Rear Admiral George Cockburn, the man who put the torch to Washington. Here too are those inadvertently caught up in the war, from heroine farm wife Laura Secord, whom some call Canada’s Paul Revere, to country doctor William Beanes, whose capture set the stage for Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
1812: The War That Forged a Nation presents a sweeping narrative that emphasizes the struggle’s importance to America’s coming-of-age as a nation. Though frequently overlooked between the American Revolution and the Civil War, the War of 1812 did indeed span half a continent — from Mackinac Island to New Orleans, and Lake Champlain to Horseshoe Bend — and it paved the way for the conquest of the other half.
During the War of 1812, the United States cast aside its cloak of colonial adolescence and — with both humiliating and glorious moments — found the fire that was to forge a nation.
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This book explained what the war of 1812 was about. I did not know it was so involved and how long it lasted. A great read and should be read by everyone so they can understand what makes America great. Also, the brave soles that lived and the ones that died defending this great country.
A very enlightening book about a war that most Americans know little about. This war was crucial in forming an American identity and is the beginning of “manifest destiny”. The intrigue practiced by some of our military and politicians is startling.
Great topic thoroughly research. The writing is sometimes confusing, but both the read
Fairly short, easily read overview of the War of 1812. The author puts a bit too much credit on the War of 1812 changing the United States from a collection of states to a single entity in the minds of its people, but the overall information about the causes, battles and final disposition of the war and the people who fought the war is very solid. …
Good history books should be not only informative, but they should pull you in, make you feel like you are personally there, experiencing it first hand. It should be more then just facts; it should be about the people and the events they influenced and responded to. This author accomplished this, bring the events of the War of 1812 alive. Highly …
Very interesting review of often ignored piece of American history, although I was disappointed that more of the naval activity around southern CT and RI was not mentioned.
Meticulously researched, 1812 is as much a primer on early American history as a text on the War of 1812. Walter Borneman covers a broad sweep of American history, from the Revolutionary War, where the older generals cut their teeth, to the Civil War where the younger men (or their sons and nephews) would make their own mark. In doing so …
I got a better understanding of the War of 1812. Covered all the bases and helped me put a bunch of disparate events into a logical and chronological order. His chapter on the composition of the Star Spangled Banner stood out to me. His version of the Battle of New Orleans and Andrew Jackson was also strong.
Very good, concise account of our nation’s history that typically gets short shrift. This account provides enough background on the characters to make it highly entertaining. It describes the geo-political situation at the time to place the war in context and to argue for it’s importance in shaping our nation.
Puts into historical context a war about which even a history buff like myself knew precious little. Integrates the military battles and the political ramifications in a way that the reader can follow. More than an historical footnote, the war of 1812 had a profound effect on the development of our nation. Borneman captures and explains it …
The War of 1812 is not an area that most Americans have intimate knowledge. This book gives details to the context of the world at the time of the war. The war was in many ways inevitable and part of the growth of a new and young country that was still trying to settle internal government as well as international relations.
While many people …
I knew nothing about the war of 1812. Now I do. But was it worth the read?
A very short primer on this war. Quite good.
slow
Jackson story and Battle of New Orleans good.
I enjoyed this immensely, and it has encouraged me to read teddy Roosevelt’s history of the Naval War of 1812. It is a page turner that also provides scholarly information about an over-looked era.
good book
Well researched and very informative.
This book has given me a much better understanding of the War of 1812 as I had little. The author calls it as he sees it and seems to show both the good and bad of the US and England. The maps were helpful except in my e version they could not be expanded and therefore not easily read.