The War of 1812: A Short History

Rating:
Summary: Extremely good
Review: I knew very little about the War of 1812, so bought this book to get a short introduction. I found it so readable that I finished it in one sitting. The book omits the kind of detail that bogs things down and causes the reader to lose sight of the "forest for the trees", but does give the reader a real sense of the times and of the sequence of events and their relationships. Highly recommended as an introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Short history but not sacrificing quality...
Review: This book was a real find...All the details leading up to the the initiation of this "forgotten" conflict are covered in clear, lucid ways that let the reader know what was happening to drive the country to war, but, conversely, it doesn't get bogged down in un-necessary detail. For such a short book, Hickey does a remarkable job with covering the political, military and (most welcome to me) social climates of the early 19th century. We learn all about the early U.S. economy and how important it was to have the good trade relationship with England and France that we initially had and how the subsequent naval conflicts with these countries affected that commerce. The other issues that led to the initiation of war, that were so complex, are covered clearly and concisely (no easy task...other books on this subject delve into much unnecessary detail that only cloud the issue leading to much confusion). All the important strategy (on the English and Native Indian side as well as the U.S. side)and battles are woven into a well balanced account. Additionally, the maps that are provided only add to that understanding. The stunning events of Fort McHenry, the burning of the White House and Andrew Jackson's battle of New Orleans are given their proper due along with lesser known conflicts along both Lakes Erie and Ontario. Finally, the political maneuvering on the part of the U.S. delegation at Ghent get a "to-the-point" summary that clearly lets the reader know what all the issues were that ended the war. Hickey is not bashful about stating that this war was, at best, a draw and that the U.S. "won" by not losing and that the diplomats at Ghent were ultimately responsible. Overall, I'm sure that the long version of this book went into much more detail on the battles and diplomacy, but, for a summary, you won't find many accounts better.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely good
Review: This book was a real find...All the details leading up to the the initiation of this "forgotten" conflict are covered in clear, lucid ways that let the reader know what was happening to drive the country to war, but, conversely, it doesn't get bogged down in un-necessary detail. For such a short book, Hickey does a remarkable job with covering the political, military and (most welcome to me) social climates of the early 19th century. We learn all about the early U.S. economy and how important it was to have the good trade relationship with England and France that we initially had and how the subsequent naval conflicts with these countries affected that commerce. The other issues that led to the initiation of war, that were so complex, are covered clearly and concisely (no easy task...other books on this subject delve into much unnecessary detail that only cloud the issue leading to much confusion). All the important strategy (on the English and Native Indian side as well as the U.S. side)and battles are woven into a well balanced account. Additionally, the maps that are provided only add to that understanding. The stunning events of Fort McHenry, the burning of the White House and Andrew Jackson's battle of New Orleans are given their proper due along with lesser known conflicts along both Lakes Erie and Ontario. Finally, the political maneuvering on the part of the U.S. delegation at Ghent get a "to-the-point" summary that clearly lets the reader know what all the issues were that ended the war. Hickey is not bashful about stating that this war was, at best, a draw and that the U.S. "won" by not losing and that the diplomats at Ghent were ultimately responsible. Overall, I'm sure that the long version of this book went into much more detail on the battles and diplomacy, but, for a summary, you won't find many accounts better.

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for war buffs
Review: This is a remarkably informative book that is essential reading for anyone interested in early 19th century U. S. history. Prof. Hickey has condensed his longer book by the same title into this little gem. He lucidly describes how the U.S. undertook a war against Britain with unclear national objectives, poor to no military planning, and partisan, divisive political actions in Congress. Moreover, President Madison wasn't up to the task of leading the nation during wartime. During the war's course, the British burned the public buildings in Washington, D.C. and strangled U.S. maritime enterprises, although U.S. successes in the Battle of New Orleans and naval battles on the Great Lakes helped establish the U.S. as a military force to be reckoned with.

Prof. Hickey has written a well researched book that has current day relevance, even though the War of 1812 isn't exactly a hot topic. As Hickey relates, going to war without clear objectives and preparation is a recipe for very tough times.