Start Reading About the War of 1812

A short list of some of the notable works on the war and its political, social and cultural context recommended for students, scholars, educators and enthusiasts.

General War of 1812:

The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict by Donald R. Hickey

The War of 1812 in the Age of Napoleon by Jeremy Black

Political and Social:

The Burning of the White House: James and Dolley Madison and the War of 1812 by Jane Hampton Cook

Free Trade and Sailors' Rights in the War of 1812 by Paul A. Gilje

The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, & Indian Allies by Alan Taylor

The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812 by Gene Allen Smith

Battles and Campaigns:

A Bloodless Victory: The Battle of New Orleans in History and Memory by Joseph F. Stoltz III

Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada by Richard V. Barbuto

Naval History:

The Naval War of 1812: A Complete History by Theodore Roosevelt

1812: The Navy's War by George C. Daughan

Ships of Oak-Guns of Iron: The War of 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy by Ronald D. Utt

Privateering: Patriots and Profits in the War of 1812 by Faye M. Kert