War Of 1812 (PBS/DVD/2011)
We Americans do love our wars – it’s why we have so many of them, I suspect. But the
War of 1812 is one of those “police actions” that most of us know absolutely nothing about except for the Marty Robbins song that extolled Andrew Jackson’s New Orleans exploits (released in 1959).
What this excellent PBS documentary illuminates is how this bizarre and unnecessary war is completely forgotten in Great Britain, only dimly noted in America and is considered Canada’s first big successful war. Writer Ken Chowder and directors Lawrence Hott and Diane Garey cut through much of American amnesia to illustrate how badly the war was fought at first, with disastrous incursions into Canada (three different invasion prongs that all ended badly for our side), the alienation of North American Indian nations, the incredible financial cost to a struggling young nation, and the disruptions it caused between the northern and southern states, almost causing the country to break apart.
The cinematography (by Stephen McCarthy) is clear, with re-creations of the battles non-heroic and level-headed. It’s a very strong and seriously professional explanation of this odd little war. But one thing did come out of it: Great Britain finally realized that this upstart land of 4 million whites and another million or so black slaves wasn’t worth the financial cost to the treasure of King George III, increasingly mad, and his Parliament.
Narrated by Joe Mantegna, this fine little documentary (from WNED-TV/Buffalo/ Toronto) is worthy of classroom showings and for those who wish to know the reality of American history.