When Britain Burned the White House

When Britain Burned the White House PDF Author: Peter Snow
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 1848546122
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 445

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Book Description
As heard on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week. Shortlisted for the Paddy Power Political History Book of the Year Award 2014. In August 1814 the United States' army is defeated in battle by an invading force just outside Washington DC. The US president and his wife have just enough time to pack their belongings and escape from the White House before the enemy enters. The invaders tuck into the dinner they find still sitting on the dining-room table and then set fire to the place. 9/11 was not the first time the heartland of the United States was struck a devastating blow by outsiders. Two centuries earlier, Britain - now America's close friend, then its bitterest enemy - set Washington ablaze before turning its sights to Baltimore. In his compelling narrative style, Peter Snow recounts the fast-changing fortunes of both sides of this extraordinary confrontation, the outcome of which inspired the writing of the 'Star-Spangled Banner', America's national anthem. Using a wealth of material including eyewitness accounts, he also describes the colourful personalities on both sides of these spectacular events: Britain's fiery Admiral Cockburn, the cautious but immensely popular army commander Robert Ross, and sharp-eyed diarists James Scott and George Gleig. On the American side: beleaguered President James Madison, whose young nation is fighting the world's foremost military power, his wife Dolley, a model of courage and determination, military heroes such as Joshua Barney and Sam Smith, and flawed incompetents like Army Chief William Winder and War Secretary John Armstrong. When Britain Burned the White House highlights this unparalleled moment in American history, its far-reaching consequences for both sides and Britain's and America's decision never again to fight each other.

When Britain Burned the White House

When Britain Burned the White House PDF Author: Peter Snow
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 1848546122
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 445

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Book Description
As heard on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week. Shortlisted for the Paddy Power Political History Book of the Year Award 2014. In August 1814 the United States' army is defeated in battle by an invading force just outside Washington DC. The US president and his wife have just enough time to pack their belongings and escape from the White House before the enemy enters. The invaders tuck into the dinner they find still sitting on the dining-room table and then set fire to the place. 9/11 was not the first time the heartland of the United States was struck a devastating blow by outsiders. Two centuries earlier, Britain - now America's close friend, then its bitterest enemy - set Washington ablaze before turning its sights to Baltimore. In his compelling narrative style, Peter Snow recounts the fast-changing fortunes of both sides of this extraordinary confrontation, the outcome of which inspired the writing of the 'Star-Spangled Banner', America's national anthem. Using a wealth of material including eyewitness accounts, he also describes the colourful personalities on both sides of these spectacular events: Britain's fiery Admiral Cockburn, the cautious but immensely popular army commander Robert Ross, and sharp-eyed diarists James Scott and George Gleig. On the American side: beleaguered President James Madison, whose young nation is fighting the world's foremost military power, his wife Dolley, a model of courage and determination, military heroes such as Joshua Barney and Sam Smith, and flawed incompetents like Army Chief William Winder and War Secretary John Armstrong. When Britain Burned the White House highlights this unparalleled moment in American history, its far-reaching consequences for both sides and Britain's and America's decision never again to fight each other.

When They Burned the White House [Illustrated Edition]

When They Burned the White House [Illustrated Edition] PDF Author: Andrew Tully
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1787201937
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
At 9:45 p.m. on August 24, 1814, the British set fire to the White House and, within an hour, the Capitol had been gutted. How could this happen? The war was not widely supported and the defense of Washington had been placed in the hands of two inept and ill-appointed leaders―Secretary of War Armstrong and Brigadier General Winder―whose “thimble headed stupidity” meant that the arriving British troops met little resistance. There were heroes in the mix: the U.S. First Lady, Dolley Madison, stayed until the last moment and, with the help of her servants, managed to save important books, a portrait of George Washington, and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Ironically, the burning of the White House had a galvanizing effect on the divided views of the young country. “Overnight, the nation united in its determination to pursue this unpopular war with new vigor, to take its revenge on a power which had shamed an independent people by burning its capital.” President Madison had, at last, the support he needed. Award winning author and newspaperman, Andrew Tully, has added flesh to the bones of this true story of an often over-looked and confusing period of U.S. history. Well-researched and historically accurate, When They Burned the White House is a fascinating read for U.S. history buffs eager for more information about the War of 1812 and all readers interested in historical drama. Illustrated throughout by celebrated graphic designer Milton Glaser. “Well told...attractive...lively”—Allen Drury, author of Advise and Content and A Shade of Difference

The Night They Burned the White House

The Night They Burned the White House PDF Author: William Seale
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781931917421
Category : Washington (D.C.)
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description


The Burning of the White House

The Burning of the White House PDF Author: Jane Hampton Cook
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1621575497
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 314

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Book Description
A book to challenge the status quo, spark a debate, and get people talking about the issues and questions we face as a country!

White House Burning

White House Burning PDF Author: Simon Johnson
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307947645
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
From the authors of the national bestseller 13 Bankers, a chilling account of America’s unprecedented debt crisis: how it came to pass, why it threatens to topple the nation as a superpower, and what needs to be done about it. With bracing clarity, White House Burning explains why the national debt matters to your everyday life. Simon Johnson and James Kwak describe how the government has been able to pay off its debt in the past, even after the massive deficits incurred as a result of World War II, and analyze why this is near-impossible today. They closely examine, among other factors, macroeconomic shifts of the 1970s, Reaganism and the rise of conservatism, and demographic changes that led to the growth of major—and extremely popular—social insurance programs. What is unquestionably clear is how recent financial turmoil exacerbated the debt crisis while creating a political climate in which it is even more difficult to solve.

Crockett's Coin

Crockett's Coin PDF Author: Mike Jordan
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781533629920
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 696

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Book Description
Visit Mikejordanbooks.com. Crockett's Coin is the first novel in author Mike Jordan's epic series of romance, war and social justice in 1800s America. The five-book Lost Heroes Series debuts in the hill country of middle Tennessee, and includes events during and after the War of 1812 in Tennessee, Falls Church, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Three teenage friends confront the harshness of war, deceit and slavery as they battle their feelings for one another. Henderson Bohannan is charmed by the spirit of the beautiful blonde Winnie Harp and intrigued by the intelligence and conviction of Kate Gate. However, each girl is kept out of his reach by promises made to others years before. Will Henderson convince Kate to break her vow of celibacy? Or will he rescue Winnie from the arranged marriage with the obnoxious Chase Ferguson. Follow the lives of these three teenagers and their families as they confront power-hungry neighbors, crooked authorities and the injustices of slavery. And witness how love, wisdom, conviction -- along with a mysterious silver coin -- affect the lives of the people of The Hills of Tennessee in the American South. More information at Mikejordanbooks.com

The Story of the Woman's Party

The Story of the Woman's Party PDF Author: Inez Haynes Gillmore
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Women
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description


Through the Perilous Fight

Through the Perilous Fight PDF Author: Steve Vogel
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0679603476
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 561

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Book Description
In a rousing account of one of the critical turning points in American history, Through the Perilous Fight tells the gripping story of the burning of Washington and the improbable last stand at Baltimore that helped save the nation and inspired its National Anthem. In the summer of 1814, the United States of America teetered on the brink of disaster. The war it had declared against Great Britain two years earlier appeared headed toward inglorious American defeat. The young nation’s most implacable nemesis, the ruthless British Admiral George Cockburn, launched an invasion of Washington in a daring attempt to decapitate the government and crush the American spirit. The British succeeded spectacularly, burning down most of the city’s landmarks—including the White House and the Capitol—and driving President James Madison from the area. As looters ransacked federal buildings and panic gripped the citizens of Washington, beleaguered American forces were forced to regroup for a last-ditch defense of Baltimore. The outcome of that “perilous fight” would help change the outcome of the war—and with it, the fate of the fledgling American republic. In a fast-paced, character-driven narrative, Steve Vogel tells the story of this titanic struggle from the perspective of both sides. Like an epic novel, Through the Perilous Fight abounds with heroes, villains, and astounding feats of derring-do. The vindictive Cockburn emerges from these pages as a pioneer in the art of total warfare, ordering his men to “knock down, burn, and destroy” everything in their path. While President Madison dithers on how to protect the capital, Secretary of State James Monroe personally organizes the American defenses, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, a prominent Washington lawyer named Francis Scott Key embarks on a mission of mercy to negotiate the release of an American prisoner. His journey will place him with the British fleet during the climactic Battle for Baltimore, and culminate in the creation of one of the most enduring compositions in the annals of patriotic song: “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Like Pearl Harbor or 9/11, the burning of Washington was a devastating national tragedy that ultimately united America and renewed its sense of purpose. Through the Perilous Fight combines bravura storytelling with brilliantly rendered character sketches to recreate the thrilling six-week period when Americans rallied from the ashes to overcome their oldest adversary—and win themselves a new birth of freedom. Praise for Through the Perilous Fight “Very fine storytelling, impeccably researched . . . brings to life the fraught events of 1814 with compelling and convincing vigor.”—Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of An Army at Dawn “Probably the best piece of military history that I have read or reviewed in the past five years. . . . This well-researched and superbly written history has all the trappings of a good novel. . . . No one who hears the national anthem at a ballgame will ever think of it the same way after reading this book.”—Gary Anderson, The Washington Times “[Steve] Vogel does a superb job. . . . [A] fast-paced narrative with lively vignettes.”—Joyce Appleby, The Washington Post “Before 9/11 was 1814, the year the enemy burned the nation’s capital. . . . A splendid account of the uncertainty, the peril, and the valor of those days.”—Richard Brookhiser, author of James Madison “A swift, vibrant account of the accidents, intricacies and insanities of war.”—Kirkus Reviews

The Great Fire

The Great Fire PDF Author: Jim Murphy
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 1338113534
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
The Great Fire of 1871 was one of most colossal disasters in American history. Overnight, the flourshing city of Chicago was transformed into a smoldering wasteland. The damage was so profound that few people believed the city could ever rise again.By weaving personal accounts of actual survivors together with the carefully researched history of Chicago and the disaster, Jim Murphy constructs a riveting narrative that recreates the event with drama and immediacy. And finally, he reveals how, even in a time of deepest dispair, the human spirit triumphed, as the people of Chicago found the courage and strength to build their city once again.

The Story of Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party

The Story of Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party PDF Author: Inez Haynes Gillmore
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Women
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description