Feeling a bit under the weather today and coming to the end of this major headache project at work this week and next, I decided to take an evening off from blogging and watch the History Channel's special on the War of 1812. Titled "First Invasion", the two-hour show reviews what for many Americans is a forgotten war, but one that clearly shaped our early notions of nationalism and ability to stand among other nations.

The war started over an issue that had largely been resolved before the first shot was fired, and the greatest American victory of the war came two weeks after the treaty that ended it was signed. Our capitol was sacked, and only saved from burning to the ground by a hurricane and a tornado that inflicted more damage on the invaders than the American militia that the British swatted aside like flies. The Canadians beat us like a drum, and New England almost seceded from the Union in support of the British trade that was their main commercial enterprise. The city of Baltimore wound up proving that Americans could stand and fight for themselves and deserved its place among nations.

If none of that sounds familiar to you, tune in to the next showing of "First Invasion". The History Channel skillfully weaves the historical, political, and cultural issues together to present a much clearer understanding of one of our murkier wars, an unpopular war that almost undid James Madison's presidency but one which ultimately vindicated our existence as a nation. It will play again in a couple of hours, and then will likely repeat during the month.

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» The Captain In 1812 from Everyman
The Captain has been reliving the War of 1812 on the History Channel. No mention of the naval star of that war, the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy, the U.S.S. Constitution, Old Ironsides, which is tied up in our neighborhood. When she went... [Read More]

Tracked on May 13, 2005 12:46 AM

» THE FORGOTTEN WAR OF 1812 from HundredPercenter
Captain Quarter's summarizes the amazing events that took place during the war of 1812, via The History Channel. I was amazed at the ferocity of the hurricane and tornado that decimated the British forces after they had just burned down Washington D.C.... [Read More]

Tracked on May 13, 2005 2:34 AM

» The Forgotten War from MidKnight Gallery
Captain's Quarters has a note on the History Channel's special on the war of 1812, and recaps some of it's highlights. While needing review on the subject myself, I must say that I'd found Theodore Roosevelt's (Yes, *that* Teddy R.), volumes on the ... [Read More]

Tracked on May 13, 2005 7:14 AM

» Blog Potpourri from QT Monster's Place
Here are a few links to super posts about second and third tier stories today: Austin Bay comments on a StrategyPage piece describing Japan as a military power. Glenn Reynolds is designing the 'Acme Blogger Reporter' kit, but Wretchard at [Read More]

Tracked on May 15, 2005 9:38 PM

» 8d19451ec8d2dae3b0cf from 8d19451ec8d2dae3b0cf
8d19451ec8d2 [Read More]

Tracked on March 30, 2007 11:42 AM