The War of 1812 FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Entangled in Napoleonic conflicts of the European continent, the impetus for fighting the War of 1812 grew hazy. The war deeply divided American sentiment, perhaps even more than Vietnam, and both the United States and Great Britain were mired in confusion until the conflict's inconclusive end." "In this collection, renowned historians David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler put the War of 1812 in historical and social context. A general overview provides the background for the conflict. Individual essays examine Jefferson's ineffective use of sanctions as a diplomatic tool, the difficulties a young nation faced with fighting and bankrolling a war against a major power, U.S.-Indian relations, and the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the conflict but failed to deliver total resolution." Detailed biographies of key players, a timeline, and primary source documents including Madison's recommendation of war, a British soldier's description of the burning of Washington, D.C., and General Andrew Jackson's account of his great victory at New Orleans, bring life to the war's controversial and destructive nature. A selection of portraits and cartoons add a valuable visual component to this all-in-one guide to a forgotten war.
SYNOPSIS
Complex issues of expansionism, free trade, neutral rights, and national pride are just some of the reasons why the War of 1812 might be least known and understood conflict in United States history.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-As the first conflict fought after the adoption of the Constitution in 1787, the War of 1812 set established precedents that would long outlive it. This book is a complete and careful description of the causes, battles, and personalities that surrounded the war. The young country's military preparedness (a very small standing army and practically no navy) and its national unity were severely tested. Some of the New England states came close to seceding from the Union because of their virulent opposition to the war. The authors describe all of the factors that led to some of the more ignominious defeats and unexpected victories. By the time the peace treaty was signed, the United States had become more of a power in world affairs. The country was more unified and convinced of the need for a strong military. All of this is well documented here, and the book includes brief biographies of some of the major participants and some primary-source documents, such as the text of the Treaty of Ghent. Unfortunately, all of the excitement and daring of men like Andrew Jackson and Oliver Perry are reduced to academic prose that does not capture the drama of the conflict. The excellent and extensive bibliography might make this resource valuable for reports. Don Nardo's The War of 1812 (Lucent, 2000) is a more vivid account that will be more appealing to students.-David Pauli, Hillsboro Public Library, OR
Booknews
This accessible volume provides a summary of the history of the War of 1812 as well as chapters on its various aspects, including the role of Native Americans, the Ghent treaty, the campaigns in 1813, and a discussion of the policies of Jefferson and Madison. Appendices with primary documents, a glossary, and short biographies of the main figures are provided. Husband and wife authors, the Heidlers have co-authored an encyclopedia of the Civil War; Jeanne teaches history at the US Air Force Academy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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