The War of 1812

In this fully illustrated introduction, acclaimed historian Carl Benn examines the War of 1812 and its significance in US history.

The war of 1812-1815 was a bloody confrontation that tore through the American frontier, the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, and parts of the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The conflict saw British, American, and First Nations forces clash, and in the process, shape the future of North American history. Carl Benn explains what led to America's decision to take up arms against Great Britain and assesses the three terrible years of fighting that followed on land and sea, where battles such as Lake Erie and Lake Champlain launched American naval traditions.

This new edition has been updated throughout to draw on the research and advances in scholarship in the two decades since original publication in 2002. Benn examines how this has not only impacted basic assumptions of force size and battle dates in some cases, but has also drawn attention to subjects that had previously been overlooked. Fully illustrated in colour with specially commissioned maps and over 50 new images, this book provides an accessible overview of the War of 1812.


About the Author
Dr Carl Benn is a history professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and previously worked in the museum field for 34 years. He has curated numerous exhibits and restored historic facilities, including Canada's most complete War of 1812 fort. His extensive publications include the critically acclaimed A Mohawk Memoir from the War of 1812 (University of Toronto Press, 2019).