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Entangled in the Napoleonic conflicts on the European continent, the reasons for fighting the War of 1812 are far from clear. Once the conflict got underway, both the United States and Great Britain waged it in great confusion and finally concluded it inconclusively. Meanwhile, the war deeply divided American sentiment, possibly more than did any other war, including Vietnam. With an overview essay providing historical background, seven essays on specific topics related to the war, biographies of the major players, ten important primary documents, and a timeline, this book will serve as an introduction to these events, both to provide a clear understanding of them and to supply the student with major historical interpretations of the war's causes, progress, and consequences.
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The War of 1812
Recent Titles in Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 The Dreyfus Affair Leslie Derfler
The War of 1812
DAVID S. HEIDLER AND JEANNE T. HEIDLER
Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey, Series Editors
GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Heidler, David Stephen, 1955– The War of 1812 / David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. p. cm.—(Greenwood guides to historic events, 1500–1900, ISSN 1538–442X) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–313–31687–2 (alk. paper) 1. United States—History—War of 1812. I. Heidler, Jeanne T. II. Title. III. Series. E354.H47 2002 973.5′2—dc21 2001050102 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2002 by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001050102 ISBN: 0–313–31687–2 ISSN: 1538–442X First published in 2002 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Kathryn E. Holland Braund Clay would salute her humor, Calhoun her grace, Webster her intelligence, and Jackson her courage.
CONTENTS
Series Foreword by Linda S. Frey and Marsha L. Frey
ix
Preface
xiii
Chronology of Events
xvii
Chapter 1 Historical Overview
1
Chapter 2 Thomas Jefferson’s Grand Experiment: The Restrictive System and the Failure of Diplomacy
17
Chapter 3 Mr. Madison’s War: Country, Congress, and the Presidency in America’s First Declared War
37
Chapter 4 All Were Surprised: The Quest for Canada and the War at Sea
Chapter 5 “We Have Met the Enemy”: The Campaigns of 1813
55 73
Chapter 6 Enemy of My Enemy: Native Americans in the War of 1812
87
Chapter 7 1814: The Year of Crisis
105
Chapter 8 The Treaty of Ghent
127
Biographies: The Personalities in the War of 1812
139
Primary Documents of the War of 1812
163
Glossary of Selected Terms
183
viii
Contents
Annotated Bibliography
187
Index
207
Photo essay follows Index.
SERIES FOREWORD
American statesman Adlai Stevenson stated that “We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present.” This series, Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900, is designed to illuminate that path by focusing on events from 1500 to 1900 that have shaped the