Review by Choice Review
Since the beginning of 2012, a number of books celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 have appeared in print. Stagg (Virginia), a leading expert on James Madison (e.g., Mr. Madison's War: Politics, Diplomacy, and Warfare in the Early American Republic, 1783-1830, CH, Feb'84), offers a brief and fast-paced narrative that places the war's origins and conduct into a transatlantic perspective. In doing so, he also contends, rightly so, that the war was a continental event that not only impacted Americans and Indians, but also shaped Canadian nationalism and state development. By addressing social, diplomatic, military, and political events, Stagg reminds readers that the Anglo-American war resulted from the European struggle (Napoleonic Wars) then gripping the continent. Finally, the author maintains that the war represented an emerging American nation-state contending with the effects of rival European nationalism across the Atlantic world. Though offering only a cursory account of military dimensions of the war, Stagg nonetheless has provided a worthwhile and readable treatment of the "Forgotten Conflict." Summing Up: Recommended. General and undergraduate collections. G. A. Smith Texas Christian University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
For most laymen, the War of 1812 conjures up a few striking images, such as General Andrew Jackson destroying the British forces at New Orleans, but general history texts often underplay the importance of the conflict. In this bicentennial year of the war, one can expect reappraisals. Stagg, professor of history at the University of Virginia, has written a short narrative history of the war that touches the important causative factors, battles, and key personalities. He also offers an interesting reinterpretation that places the war in the broader context of international power politics and the emerging nationalism of the U.S. and, especially, Canada. He usefully reminds us of the major role played by Native Americans, who fought and sacrificed on both sides. This is a well-written account, ideally suited for general readers.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Stagg (history, Univ. of Virginia; coeditor, The Papers of James Madison) here presents a somewhat different take on the War of 1812. He covers almost none of the naval history, instead analyzing the war's military, political, diplomatic, and social aspects from both a continental and a transatlantic perspective. In his first chapter, "War," he discusses President James Madison's war message to Congress, which cited as a justification the grievous events that had been occurring among the United States, Great Britain, and France since the end of the American Revolution in 1783. The next three chapters present the war chronologically, focusing on the military aspects, always with an eye to its causes and effects on the North American continent. The final chapter, "Peace," discusses various attempts at ending the conflict almost from the time it began to the December 1814 Treaty of Ghent, which theoretically put a stop to the shooting war. Stagg ably contends that the complete redress of grievances did not end until the 1830s. VERDICT This capably told account of complex issues should appeal to both students and scholars. It is also a fine choice for informed general readers.-David Lee Poremba, Windermere, FL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
