History

America's First Crisis: The War of 1812

Name: America's First Crisis: The War of 1812
Author: Robert P. Watson
ISBN: 9781438451343

by Robert P. Watson

ISBN: 9781438451343

Description

Engaging and accessible account of the war that helped forge the American nation. The War of 1812, sometimes called Americas forgotten war, was a curious affair. At the time, it was dismissed as Mr. Madisons War. L... Engaging and accessible account of the war that helped forge the American nation. The War of 1812, sometimes called Americas forgotten war, was a curious affair. At the time, it was dismissed as Mr. Madisons War. Later it was hailed by some as Americas Second War for Independence and ridiculed by others, such as President Harry Truman, as the silliest damned war we ever had. The conflict, which produced several great heroes and future presidents, was all this and more. In Americas First Crisis Robert P. Watson tells the stories of the most intriguing battles and leaders and shares the most important blunders and victories of the war. What started out as an effort to invade Canada, fueled by anger over the harassment of American merchant ships by the Royal Navy, soon turned into an all-out effort to fend off an invasion by Britain. Armies marched across the Canadian border and sacked villages; navies battled on Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, and the worlds oceans; both the American and Canadian capitals were burned; and, in a final irony, the United States won its greatest victory in New Orleansafter the peace treaty had been signed. Watson has produced a highly readable and lively account of the key battles, commanders, and events of this forgotten war. Watson presents this important war as not only unnecessary and filled with intrigue, but a conflict that ended up shaping both American nationalism and the geopolitical future of the continent. This book accomplishes its goal of providing a new understanding of the importance of this underappreciated war. Richard M. Yon, United States Military Academy This thorough, informative, and engaging narrative of the War of 1812 will be of great interest to scholars, students, and anyone interested in military history and American politics. It brings battles from over two hundred years ago to life and illustrates why studying this war is essential to understanding conflicts over US foreign and defense poli

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#history #nonfiction #education #pastanpresent