The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict

The War of 1812 is best remembered in the United States as the conflict that inspired attorney Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." A war in which a dying naval captain, James Lawrence, urged his men, "Don't give up the ship!" A war that saw the White House and the Capitol building burned to the ground in 1814 and the city of Washington plundered by British soldiers and American citizens alike.

Militarily the conflict ended in 1815 in a draw. But in a larger sense it represented a failure for Madison's Republican administration. An apathetic public refused to volunteer for military service or to support higher taxes, bringing the nation perilously close to defeat and bankruptcy. Military leaders were unable to conquer Canada or to achieve any of the nation's maritime goals. There were also deep divisions within the Republican party and vigorous Federalist opposition to the war.

Hickey explains how the war promoted American nationalism and manifest destiny, stimulated peacetime defense spending, and enhanced America's reputation abroad. In a darker vein, he recalls that this war sparked bloody encounters between pro-war Republicans and anti-war Federalist neighbors, dealt a crippling blow to the American Indians, and hardened Yankee hearts against all things British.

The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflictdeals with bloodshed on the battlefield and mod violence in the streets of Baltimore, with politics, trade, dissent, and diplomacy. Filled with lively anecdotes, this informative study should entertain students, historians, and general readers alike.