Download 1 WHAT WE KNOW THAT AIN`T SO: MYTHS OF THE WAR OF 1812

Professor Don Hickey
Wayne, NE 68787
Wayne State College
[email protected]
WHAT WE KNOW THAT AIN’T SO:
MYTHS OF THE WAR OF 1812
The War of 1812 in the Backcountry
Rowan Museum, Salisbury, NC
April 4, 2014
I. Overview of the War of 1812
President James Madison issued a proclamation declaring war against Great Britain on
June 19, 1812. The purpose of this war was to conquer Canada, but American militia armed
with Kentucky rifles could not overcome the militia of Canada, who were aided by British
regulars and by Indians under the command of Tecumseh, the leading native of the period. The
U.S. Navy, relying on picked crews that were heavily British, employed large frigates that were
actually ships-of-the-line in disguise and thus defeated the British in the war at sea. In the last
great battle of the war, American riflemen defeated the British at New Orleans on January 8,
1815, although this battle was actually fought after the Treaty of Ghent had ended the war on
December 24, 1814. If the British had prevailed at New Orleans, they planned to sack the city
and retain Louisiana, which would have changed the course of American history. Federalists
bitterly opposed the contest, which has been aptly called a second war of independence, and
their opposition encouraged the enemy and prolonged the war. Had the United States adopted
a more focused military strategy, it would have conquered Canada. But even without Canada,
the new nation enjoyed enough success on land and at sea that it could still claim victory.
II. General Comments on Myths
1. What are myths?
A Spectrum
From big ideas (what caused the war, role of militia, who won) to small misconceptions
(cotton bales or kilts at New Orleans; flag at Fort McHenry)
2. Where do myths come from?
Participants
Assorted local, regional, and national boosters and patriots
Historians: William James, Benson J. Lossing, Henry Adams
3. Why are myths so durable?
They make for exciting stories
They promote an attractive and affirmative history
Accepting them doesn’t require any work
III. Leading Myths of the War of 1812
1. The war began with President Madison’s proclamation on June 19, 1812, and ended with
the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814.
2.
The purpose of the war was to conquer and annex Canada.
3.
The conflict was a second war of American independence.
4.
American and Canadian militia played a central role in the war.
5.
The Kentucky rifle was a game-changer and war-winner, especially at New Orleans.
6.
Tecumseh was the most important Indian leader in the war.
7.
American heavy frigate were ships-of-the-line in disguise, relied on picked crews that were
heavily British, and their victories enabled the United States to win the war at sea.
1
8.
If the British had defeated Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans, they planned to
sack the city and retain Louisiana after the war.
9.
Federalist opposition encouraged the enemy and prolonged the war.
10. With a more focused strategy, the United States could have conquered Canada, but it still
won the war.
Suggestions for Further Reading
Part 1: Nineteenth-Century Histories
1. Adams, Henry. History of the United States [during the Administrations of Jefferson and Madison]. 9
vols. New York, 1889-91. Started or perpetuated many US myths.
2. James, William. A Full and Correct Account of the Chief Naval Occurrences of the Late War between
Great Britain and the United States of America. London, 1817. Responsible for myths of the
naval war.
3. -----. The Naval History of Great Britain, From the Declaration of War by France in 1793 to the
Accession of George IV. rev. ed. 6 vols. London, 1822-26. Responsible for myths of naval war.
4. Lossing, Benson J., Jr. The Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812. New York, 1868. Repeats many
nineteenth century myths that are still current today.
Part 2: Works on the Mythology of the War
1. Hickey, Donald R. Don’t Give Up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812. Toronto and Urbana, IL, 2006.
Examines common myths and misconceptions on both sides in the war.
2. -----. “Leading Myths of the War of 1812.” War of 1812 Magazine 1 (September 2006):
<http:www.napoleon-series.org/military/Warof1812/2006/ Issue4/ c_myths.html>. Explains
leading myths of the war.
Part 3: General Works on the War
1. Hickey, Donald R. The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict. Bicentennial ed. Urbana, IL, 2012. An
overview of the war from the American perspective.
2. ----- and Clark, Connie D. The Rockets’ Red Glare: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812.
Baltimore, 2011. A history of the war supported by illustrations, some quite rare.
2. Hitsman, J. Mackay. The Incredible War of 1812: A Military History. Toronto, 1965; updated by
Donald E. Graves, Toronto, 1999. Presents the war from the Canadian perspective.
3. Horsman, Reginald. The War of 1812. New York, 1969. The best study of the causes of the war.
4. Stanley, George F. G. The War of 1812: Land Operations. [Toronto], 1983. A fine Canadian study
with especially good maps.
Part 4: Other Works on the War
1. Hickey, Donald R. “The Top 25 Articles on the War of 1812,” War of 1812 Magazine, 3 (May 2008):
online at <http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/Warof1812/ 2008/Issue9/c_top25articles.html>.
One person’s view of the best books on the war.
2. -----. “The Top 25 Books on the War of 1812.” War of 1812 Magazine 2 (September 2007): online at
<http://www.napoleon-series.org/military /Warof1812/2007/ Issue7/c_top25books.html>. One
person’s view of the best articles on the war.