The War of 1812: Writings from America’s Second War of Independence by Donald R. Hickey (review)

The War of 1812 has long been an underemphasized period in the dynamic and complex history of the United States of America. However, the recent bicentennial of the outbreak of the War of 1812 has led to an increase in academic interest in the subject. Among these publications is The War of 1812: Writings from America’s Second War of Independence, an edited volume by renowned War of 1812 scholar Donald R. Hickey, professor of history at Wayne State College in Nebraska. Hickey is known for such works as Don’t Give Up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812 (2006) and The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict (2012). In this latest publication, Hickey presents 140 letters, memoirs, poems, songs, speeches, sermons, editorials, journals, diaries, and proclamations written, recorded, or published during this tumultuous time in American history. These primary sources are integral to anyone interested in researching this rather obscure time period.

To compile the collection, Hickey drew from a number of American, British, Canadian, and American Indian sources. The volume brings to life such famous and influential people as Thomas Jefferson, James and Dolly Madison, James Monroe, Arthur Wellesley, Francis Scott Key, and Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Yet this volume is not limited to the powerful and influential figures of the conflict. For example, Hickey includes excerpts from documents produced by a number of British and American soldiers and sailors, including such detailed accounts of the war from the perspectives of British soldier Shadrach Byfield and American soldier William Atherton. The volume also includes a number of decrees from governing bodies, such as the U.S. Congress and state governments. The plethora of significant figures and works of government in the collection are integral to the understanding of the War of 1812 and its significance in U.S. history.

In The War of 1812, Hickey interprets the primary documents presented in this volume in a number of ways. First, he offers an introduction that more or less describes the political atmosphere in the United States prior to the outbreak of war with Great Britain. Furthermore, Hickey provides annotation for each of the excerpts included in the volume along with a brief headnote to contextualize the importance of each document. Toward the end of the volume, Hickey presents a chronology that briefly describes the major events from 1812 to 1814, which will be of use to general readers. Biographical notes about the lives and careers of the major figures whose words appear in this volume further enhance the text. All of these features add value to Hickey’s selected documents and allow the reader to get a very succinct and thorough understanding of the primary documentation of this little considered yet significant conflict.

The War of 1812: Writings from America’s Second War of Independence is a testament to Donald Hickey’s expertise in the field of early American history. Although it does not include every document related to the War of 1812, Hickey’s expertise allowed him to choose the sources most pertinent and relevant to the topic. The variety of important primary sources presented in this volume and Hickey’s ability to arrange them in a clear and concise manner make this book essential to anyone researching the War of 1812. Hickey’s method of describing the documents and the conflict itself also make this book perfect for anyone who enjoys good scholarly presentation of primary material.