The Republic in Peril: 1812

by Roger H. Brown

In a major new interpretation of the origins of the War of 1812, Roger H. Brown argues in this book that the United States declared war on Great Britain in order to save the "republican experiment." The increasingly bitter partisan struggle over domestic and foreign policy, exacerbated by the effects of the war between Great Britain and France, grew into a corrosive mutual distrust. Federalists doubted that the government could withstand the strains being placed upon it, and Republicans suspected Federalists of conspiring to institute another form of government. Drawing on much new manuscript material, Professor Brown re-examines interpretations of the origins of the war that focus on sectional rivalries, the influence of "warhawk" congressmen, and the disruption of commerce. Analyzing the debate over the war question, he discusses the motives of the various individuals and groups, initial strategy and planning, and the role of the parties, the President, and Congress. He offers impressive new evidence that what spurred the Madison administration to declare war was the conviction that it must act decisively to halt the internal crumbling of confidence in the republican system, and to demonstrate to the nation and the world that the new republic would succeed.

Genres: History, American History

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1971

Reviews

[John E]

This is not really a history of the origins of the War of 1812, but an extended argument of a particular view. According to Brown there were no "War Hawks" calling for conquest of Canada and Florida, no economic interests around the war, and no need to solve the problems of impressment of seamen and the restrictions on trade. No. The was was an attempt by the Republican Party to fight off the Federalists to make sure that the American Republic (of which they were the only true republicans) survived with "honor". I was not impressed.

[Meghan]

Fairly easy to read and it did make a lot of interesting points about all the different factors that went into declaring war. Certain terminology was outdated. Brown referred to the Republican party, when anti-Federalist or Democratic Republican would have been a better choice. The Republican party as itself did not exist yet. The whole thing did take on a strong anti-Federalist bias, as the ultimate observation was the necessity of the War.

[Jerome Otte]

A brief work with a focus on the western origins of the war. Brown argues that concern about America’s “republican experiment” played a role as important as, if not bigger than, maritime and expansionist issues.

Well-written, the book presents the views of different congressional factions in respect to the declaration of war against Britain. Brown fails, however, to give a complete summary of all the various circumstances that influenced these factions.

Notably, Brown argues that expansionism played little role in the decision for war. He de-emphasizes the actions of Henry Clay’s “war hawks” that wanted more Indian and Canadian territory; he even questions the existence of such a group. Instead, it seems that all Republicans at the time thought that a war was inevitable.

Brown also disputes that war-fever was solely driven by the Republicans, and shows how the idea of “national honor" influenced the decision for war.

[Jonathan]

Suggested by Winston Groom