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1812: The War That Forged a Nation | 
 enlarge | Author: Walter R. Borneman
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 294050
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0060531126
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.52
EAN: 9780060531126
ASIN: 0060531126
Publication Date: October 1, 2004
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Condition: VERY GOOD except for UNDERLINING/HIGHLIGHTING. We always ship same or next day!
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Product Description
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 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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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Excellent Introduction September 2, 2008
An excellent introduction into the War of 1812. Borneman does not focus too much on giving you every detail but rather gives you a good overview of the events of the war. Anyone who is interested in the War of 1812 should enjoy this book. I recommend it to everyone.
Enjoyable Book on the War of 1812 August 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
We are just a few hours from Niagara Falls. Many times we have visited Put-in-Bay and ascended the Perry Peace Memorial. This year, we travelled to Mackinac Island. All of those places are rich with history from the War of 1812. In order to better understand those places, I decided that it would be a good time to read a little history concerning the War of 1812, which probably doesn't get as much attention as the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. But the War of 1812 is no less important to the history of the United States. In fact, as the subtitle of this book reveals, it was the war that "forged a nation." Prior to the conflict, the young United States were still basically a collection of individual states without a national identity. The War of 1812 galvanized the states into the United States and also started the country on a path to becoming a world power.
Contents: List of Maps; Acknowledgements; The War That Forged a Nation; To Steal an Empire; First Blood at Sea; War Hawks and Tippecanoe; Mr. Madison's War; Concessions Too Late; Oh, Canada; Hurrah for Old Ironsides; Marching on a Capital; Don't Give Up the Ship; We Have Met the Enemy; Old Hickory Heads South; On the Thames and St. Lawrence; The Lion's Roar; Niagara's Thunder; Lake Champlain; Another Capital Burns; O Say, Can You See?; Still Mr. Madison's War; Christmas in Ghent; Along the Mighty Mississip'; A Nation at Last; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.
In 1812: The War that Forged a Nation, Walter R. Borneman has written a very readable and enjoyable history of the War of 1812. He begins the book with the state of the United States from 1807 to 1812, which allows the reader to understand the context that brought the young nation to declare war on the mightiest nation in the world. Luckily for the US, Great Britain was preoccupied with Napolean early in the conflict, otherwise the results may have been much different. The primary reasons for the war were; impressment of American sailors (if a British ship came across a ship from the US, it was common for the British to simply take men off of the US ship and make them work on the British ship), promoting Indian unrest on the frontier, and seizure of US ships. But there were factions at work in the US that wanted Canada. Those factions (called "war hawks"), pushed President Madison and Congress to declare war on Britain. Early battles were fought on or near the Great Lakes (Detroit, Mackinac Island, Lake Erie, and around Niagara Falls). Later, British soldiers and navy brought the war to the eastern seaboard. It was that effort that solidified feelings in the population with a national identity.
As I stated earlier, this is a very enjoyable book on the War of 1812. Borneman infuses the book with good character studies of the men involved so that they become very understandable. In some aspects, it almost reads like a very good work of fiction. Except that many of the names should be familiar to you; Oliver Hazard Perry, Andrew Jackson, Isaac Brock, Aaron Burr, and James Madison (among others). While the book might have had more detail, Borneman provides just enough to allow you to grasp the men and the battles. He also adds some additional information on the principal figures so that you can understand their strengths and weaknesses. The latter really shows you the staggering lack of military leadership within the United States army. The navy was able to cut its teeth in earlier battles and thus had some very capable leadership.
1812: The War That Forged a Nation is an excellent book on the formation of the United States.
Good Overview of the War of 1812 April 23, 2008
I bought this book a while ago and it sat on my shelf. I lost interest in this topic but needed a book that was a quick read. Once I began, each page drew me in and it turned out to be a very good book - easily readable and can be read in a few days time. The author gives the reader a great overview of the causes leading up to the war, the main battle both on land and sea and the political ongoings during the war up to the treaty of Ghent. It was written in a quick pace, interesting style. So a matter-of-fact book turned out to be an excellent book in my opinion. This is a good pick for someone wanting to get the "summary" version and not get bogged down in dry, cumbersome details. I will say my knowledge increased greatly on this subject and was a pleasure to read.
A great read! March 13, 2008
As an avid reader of history books, I luckily found this book on Amazon because I was doing a college report on the War of 1812 for my American History class. I wasn't sure what to write about, but I selected The War of 1812 just for the hell of it. Never having read about it before, I didn't know what to expect. Knowledgeable on the Revolutionary War, I was stricken on how eerily similar this one started off. This undoubtedly helped me on my research. What I loved about this book is how easy it is to read. It reads like a newspaper article. Simple and to the point and with generous examples to give precise clarification. What I love about Borneman's version is how he recaps past events as each chapter evolves throughout the story of the war. What better way to fully grasp the events of this war by constantly reminding yourself. If you're a student who appreciates simplicity and you're in a time crunch, this is a perfect, well-crafted read. Not to say that it's simplicity lacks any depth. On the contrary. There is cause and consequence and perspective in each chapter. You are placed in each party's frame of mind and allowed to distinguish between cause and effect. Too many colleges require tougher reads, but that's BS. Many professors will agree. Simplicity is what they're looking for as well when grading papers. And if you can't get excited over American History in general, then this book is for you. It brings a mildly comedic approach to the War and paints images in your mind of what it would have been like back then. If you are having any doubts, then take my word for it. It's a great and easy book. Buy it!
Great! Plus the pictures! March 4, 2008
I wasn't expecting any surprises from a paperback edition until I turned to the back and found all the extra stuff. It's like a DVD with a bunch of bonus features.
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