Unshackling America: How the War of 1812 Truly Ended the American Revolution

American colonists' troubles with Great Britain began with the French and Indian War, which spanned 1754–63. Britain won but at a heavy cost. In response, Parliament tried to tie colonial commerce tighter to the mother country and instituted taxes to recoup costs incurred in governing the rambunctious colonies. Historian and biographer Randall (Alexander Hamilton: A Life; Thomas Jefferson: A Life) explains how tensions remained tense with the start of the French Revolution as Britain impounded American ships. With American victories at Plattsburgh, Baltimore, and New Orleans in 1814–15, the War of 1812 ended our maritime dependence on Britain, securing the new nation's Western borders in the process. Randall is an engaging and adept storyteller, but he makes little attempt to analyze how the War of 1812 "truly ended" the Revolution. His narrative stops abruptly after the conclusion of the conflict in 1815.