Afbeelding van de auteur.

Donald R. Hickey

Auteur van The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict

11 Werken 648 Leden 6 Besprekingen

Over de Auteur

Donald R. Hickey is a professor of history at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. He is the author of seven books, including Don't Give Up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812, and numerous articles.
Fotografie: Wayne State College

Werken van Donald R. Hickey

Tagged

Algemene kennis

Leden

Besprekingen

Many histories are arranged chronologically or focus on a particular individual or event. “Don’t Give Up The Ship” is arranged into six topics: The Causes of the War; Battles and Campaigns; The Maritime War; Soldiers, Sailors and Civilians; The Mechanics of Waging War; and The End of the War. Each topic is divided into several subtopics. The subtitle, “Myths of the War of 1812” tells much about the author’s approach. He begins with the generally accepted and examines how much is true or not. The text is supplemented with maps, drawings and portraits. I knew a fair amount about the War of 1812 when I first picked up this work, and found the author’s format to be a very effective method to learn more. I chose to read this book straight through, with many interruptions, but it could be kept on your shelf for reverence when a question pops up, as I plan to do.

For a taste of the analysis presented in this book, let us consider the oft-offered British Impressment of American seamen as a cause of the War. Why did the British adopt impressment? Who were impressed? How many? Why was it a casus belli?

Why? The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars raised the need for Royal Navy seamen from 36,000 in 1793 to 114,000 in 1812, during which 100,000 perished either from accident or disease. Merchant vessels paid better. Being chronically short of enlistments, impressment, a form of loosely structured draft, to use modern terminology, was employed in seaports and merchant vessels of Britain or those of neutrals while in British ports or on the high seas.

Who? British law held that no one could renounce the status of British subject, a position accepted by the United States until 1848, hence even those naturalized as American citizens were, in the British view, liable for impressment.

How many? Estimates vary, but 10,000 is a reasonable figure, few of whom were either naturalized American citizens or mistakenly identified American natives.

Casus belli? Although maritime issues were frequently mentioned at the time, impressment was likely a minor portion of that.

That gives you an idea of the breath of analysis in one of the dozens of subjects examined.

Those possessing an interest in the early American Republic in general or the War of 1812 in particular, owe much to Professor Hickey for his scholarship and authorship. Read “Don’t Give Up The Ship”, savor it and, whenever you have a question about the War of 1812, pick it up and read again.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
JmGallen | 1 andere bespreking | Dec 17, 2023 |
Terrific first-hand accounts of our second war of independence. I have also been reading the LOA Civil War series, and the difference in writing styles that took place in the fifty years or so is startling - a real American voice emerged by the time the Civil War came.
 
Gemarkeerd
kcshankd | Nov 29, 2013 |
As a Marylander, I wouldn't dare forget the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. This book is in the format of a series of questions that most readers probably don't know enough to ask. I was somewhat vaguely aware that there was border warfare between the United States and Canada around this period, but somehow didn't connect the dots that it was part of the War of 1812. The main event was of course the failed attack on Fort McHenry, with the secondary event of the burning of Washington. I did work in the building next to the Old Patent office, and I love the story (told here) about the head of the agency successfully defending his building by appealing to the better nature of the British. Hickey pulls together a lot of somewhat unanchored facts that I knew (Don't Give up the Ship, Old Ironsides) with a lot of things that I didn't know in a book that I found very readable and educational. I wish that he had told a few more of the colorful stories about things like St. Michaels hanging lanterns in the trees to mislead the British into bombarding the forest instead of the town, but that may be my local bias showing again. If you are intrigued by this account, he has a list of further readings. The index and chronology are also very helpful. Recommended for anyone interested in a helpful, if not scholarly work.… (meer)
1 stem
Gemarkeerd
PuddinTame | Sep 18, 2012 |
This was interesting but a bit disappointing. It didn't really review the events of the war, but did go over some key facts. The 'myths' are a bit obscure - good if you are already familiar with the War of 1812 - but not too familiar. Its not a history, but more of a debate about very fine details.
½
 
Gemarkeerd
Karlstar | 1 andere bespreking | Apr 29, 2009 |

Prijzen

Misschien vindt je deze ook leuk

Statistieken

Werken
11
Leden
648
Populariteit
#38,952
Waardering
3.8
Besprekingen
6
ISBNs
34

Tabellen & Grafieken