Film, culture, history
In a letter to the British press, an American Federalist was sure of victory over Madison’s “Democrats.”
“De Witt Clinton will be president; Mr Monroe will go out; his successor is not named.”
He continued that “our secretary of treasury is going down as fast as possible. His budget will, no doubt, be the laughing stock of all foreign nations, as well as this.”
Continue reading “The papers were wrong! Clinton is the loser!”
At times, it looked as if the election of 1812 would be a close one. At any rate, its outcome was more important than remembered. Even as late as July 3 1813, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser in Australian was speculating on who the winner was. Their information, which came from across the sea on the 12th January of that year, supposed that they could have been wrong about a DeWitt Clinton victory, but “The electors of Vermont are said to be in favor of Mr. Clinton.” Continue reading “The re-election of James Madison”
At the start of 1812, insurgents were big news in the French media.
“We learn from Valencia that the small fortress that Marshall Sechet has left in his rear, blockaded by various corps of the army, have successively surrendered, and the siege of Valencia has been seriously prosecuted by General Harispe, who commands under the orders of the Marshall. The Spanish General Blake is attempting to collect a force, in order to make a second attempt to relieve the place, but the uniform terror spread by the armies of France, is sufficient to impede his design; and the insurgents have, by the last account, been driven from the right bank of Guadilaviar. The Polish division has particularly distinguished itself in the late encounters with the enemy.”
One thing I notice in looking at old documents is the use of the word “terror” in war, as if it were a good thing. The French weren’t alone is using “terror” as an instrument. Even in the US Navy, ships carried the name “USS Terror” as late as World War II. (The Terror was a minelayer, a ship whose primary purpose was to lay sea mines in the water.)
Of course, the word terror does not necessarily mean what we today call a terrorist. But has the definition of the word insurgent changed as well? Continue reading “French terrorists vs Spanish insurgents”
Baltimore: July 27 1812. The war of 1812 is a done deal. Most of the surrounding “Democrats” support war with Britain, over stained honor from an attack of the USS Chesapeake. They want to fight because Britain is supporting guerrilla warfare. But, one old Revolutionary war veteran, doesn’t agree with the mob. General James MacCubban Lingan wishes for peace. And he defends the home of the publisher of a pro-peace newspaper, the home of the editor of the Federalist Republican.
To the Federalist Republican, war with Britain is merely helping Napoleon. The United States has nothing to gain and everything to lose.
The mob of “Democrats” didn’t see things that way. Continue reading “Baltimore Democrats attack Republican Newspaper, kill 2”
(This is Gargamelo’s first post with Ptara.)
April 1812, Rio de Janeiro, King’s Palace.
The Regent and his two sons – meeting with their state secretary and top ministers – have just received the news that Napoleon’s troops have definitely been expelled from Portugal. That means that there is no longer a valid reason for the court to remain in Brazil.
However, except for the Regents wife, Queen Carlota Joaquina, the royals are in no hurry to return. Continue reading “Dom Joao VI, The damned Prince, King of Contraditions”
Today Ptara is joined by two world class historians who give their take on what started the war of 1812.
They examine the speeches of the British Parliament and the US House of Representatives. From Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana, up to the repeal of the Orders of Council, the US and Britain had shaky relations. Continue reading “What started the war of 1812? Canadian and American viewpoints”
French history buffs are planning their own theme park to compete with Disneyland, and honour France’s best known soldier. Napoleonland will bring history to life, in ways that could even make fans of “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Killer” blush with embarrassment.
Et alors, can pure amusement be educational? It worked for King Arthur’s Labyrinth in Wales, and that’s History. Or, it’s a story.
So why not have Napoleonland!
If they do it though, better do it right. Here’s some rides we’d like to see at Napoleonland: Continue reading “What rides should they have at Napoleonland?”
While Prince William, and most of the media, followed the European cup, Kate Middleton went to the theatre instead. Sports are big news today, and almost every top athlete is a household name. Things weren’t always that way.
In June of 1812, a man from the county of Somerset came up with a challenge. He bet 500 guineaus that he could walk 1000 miles in as many hours. Continue reading “When the athlete was anonymous and there were no sports pages”
In 1812, changes in technology, bank failures, and an economic recession (partly brought about because the European market was cut off by war) were putting people in Britain out of work. But one man saw a solution. Continue reading “A suggestion to the unemployment problem, from 200 years ago.”
When we read about Burma in history books, we read about war. However, the first representatives of the English speaking nations to that part of the world were Baptist missionaries who saw Burma as “the land of laughter.” Continue reading ““Land of Laughter”: British and American views of Burma, 1812-2012″