The War of 1812

by John K. Mahon

JOHN K. MAHON presents here a detailed narrative of the military operations in the War of 1812, both on land and on water. This is the first in-depth study of the war written during the last eighty years. Through intensive analysis he tries to find out what really happened and what were the command decisions which caused affairs to go as they did. Mahon treats the war as a part of the social history of the time, and it becomes clear that this was a good example of how not to use war as an instrument of national policy. The American people were sharply divided over the nation's involvement and this division affected diplomatic and military actions. These are facts which have present-day significance.

Genres: History, American History, Military History

488 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

John K. Mahon was professor of history emeritus at the University of Florida. A 1934 graduate of Swarthmore College, after service in the Second World War he graduated with a Ph.D. from UCLA in 1950. He taught at the University of Florida from 1954 until his retirement in 1982.