Customer Reviews

The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies

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I am much impressed by this book. Most accounts of this war are, wow, we won (speaking as a Canadian) against superior numbers. Critical of the American efforts and leadership, Taylor nonetheless points out the difficulties their forces had with respect to logistics. The Canadian and British forces as long as they controlled the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes had no problems with supply. The British navy did lose the Battle of Lake Erie (perhaps on account of their captains's infatuation with a pretty widow - a story not told here but to be found in Egerton Ryerson's account) and consequently could not hang on to Detroit and the Territory of Michigan.The British also had the advantage of better trained troops,skilled with the bayonet.

Americans tend to remember Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans, which in fact took place after the Peace had been signed. The Americans won the peace, that Taylor carefully explains. The losers were the Indians. Tecumseh, the charismatic Swannee chief had managed to build an alliance of the Indian nations. This fell apart when he was killed in this war (as a consequence of the loss of the Battle of Lake Erie) and the British were unable to give the the Indians the support they needed if the British grand strategy of a balance of power between the British, the American, and Indian nations was to be maintained. The United States was able to pick off the Indian peoples one by one after this war.

Still the fact remains that the United States attempted to invade and conquer Canada and were repulsed at every effort. Not a square foot of Canada was taken.

Taylor's thesis is that it was really a civil war like the American Revolution. (He does not go into Ryerson's thesis that the split between the Loyalists and the Patriots began with the arrival of the Massachusetts Bay colony across the bay from Plymouth Rock in 1629. From the beginning, in contrast to the Plymouth Rock colony, the Bay colony were disloyal to the Crown, intolerant of other religions, and hostile to the Indians.)

A refreshingly new, impartial, in depth review of the war, the characters both military and civil, high and low who participtated with a most interesting and logical interpretation of it as an extention of the American Revolution. Well written and easy to read this is a must read for anyone interested in the origins of both Canada and the United States and why they developed the way they did.

There's a great deal to be learned about a relatively obscure part of Canadian history, namely how Canada was settled and why, and how this played into the conflict. For Americans who know relatively little about the rivalry between the Republicans and Federalists, there is equally compelling content about how the US didn't simply emerge from the Revolution with a common sense of nationhood and identity, but struggled for decades to find them. For today's US libertarians, there are lessons to be learned that even with the anti-tax sentiment of the Republicans, they were hardly libertarian in the treatment of non-whites, but rank interventionists. But for readers of almost any persuasion or inclination, there are some incredible insights gained, like how David Parish of Ogdensburg, NY helped finance the US war effort while undermining any prospects for victory through the concessions he obtained from the Madison Administration to keep the upper St. Lawrence from becoming a major invasion front despite its enormous strategic importance.

I bought this book after reading a recommendation by Jeffrey Simpson in the Globe & Mail. It is a very interesting book, events are described in detail and allow the reader to understand what happened. Taylor also reveals much that is not well known about the War of 1812 and the different political and military actors who took part in this troubled period of history between Canada and the USA. What I found fascinating was how little the Republican party has changed in 200 years. How the Americans were a lot less noble than people imagine them to be. The aboriginals Nations the great losers in all of this. It is also interesting to note that political figures like Jefferson and Madison and others in today's perspective can be viewed as committing crimes against humanity and war criminals. Conducting a war of aggression against Canadians. A very good read all around.

Taylor starts off by explaining his civil war title. He points out that Irish Americans fought against British regiments, that were populated with Irish recruits. American soldiers battled American Loyalists. Various Indian tribes also went to war against one another. One might also add, that some French Canadians probably went up against some American Huguenots.

Taylor does an outstanding job, describing the Canadian and US political scene. Most of Upper Canada was populated by American Loyalists. The Loyalists tended to their farms, and were ruled by a British elite government. The US was split between the Federalist Party and Jefferson`s Republicans. The Federalist did not support an invasion of Canada. The political divisions, end up throwing the Americans into a bungled war plan. In fact a George Costanza type as Secretary of War, probably would have meant a quick victory for the US. The US war planners seem to do the exact opposite, of everything that is needed to crush Upper Canada.

The weak area of the book, is Taylor`s battle descriptions. Taylor does not seem to be much of a military historian. The reader gets a rather brief over view of most battles. The great Indian warrior leader Tecumseh, does not receive any attention. The larger military picture, also seems to be glossed over as well. The war in Europe and the North American battles outside of the Upper Canada area, are not discussed in any great detail.

Taylor then concludes how the war shaped the political landscape of North America. The Americans got a secure border, and were able to continue their westward expansion. He feels the war helped solidify a sense of America, and a budding Republic. In Upper Canada, the seeds of rebellion were planted. The citizens did not have any democratic rights, and were ruled by a royal elite. The ruling elite later become known as the Family Compact. They were to face an armed rebellion led by William Lyon Mackenzie. There was also a rebellion in Lower Canada.

Over all, this was a very enjoyable read. The background political descriptions of North America were exceptional.

A well written and researched book that should be read by all Americans. It was the beginning of expansionist American policy which continues to this day!
It describes a war that few North Americans are even aware took place. It was the first defeat for the US as they failed to capture Canada.The big losers were the Indians who were systematically decimated throughout the rest of the century.