Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The War of 1812
Nonfiction
For ages 9 to 12
Capstone Press, 2005 ISBN: 978-0756508487
Just thirty years after the end of the American Revolutionary War, and despite the fact that George Washington had warned his people to stay out of other people's wars, America was at war again. This time the new country was drawn into a longstanding conflict between England and France.
A trade blockade that these countries had imposed on one another was having a devastating affect on U.S. commerce. In addition British military ships were pressing (forcing) sailors from American ships into service on British vessels – a practice which infuriated the Americans
Despite attempts by the Americans to ease the tension, and by some members of the government to stay out of the war, war against Britain was finally declared on June 18th, 1812.
Britain was much more powerful and better equipped than the Americans. Thankfully they were also occupied with fighting the French and they could not put all their resources into this new war. The result was a conflict which dragged on for two years before a peace treaty was finally signed in December of 1814.
This book from the "We the people" series tells the story of a war which many people know very little about. The author not only gives an interesting account of the war but she also explains how the war affected the nations involved as a whole, and what affect the war had on the future.
