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historyarch  ·  2221 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Significance of Zama (Roman History)

Have you read Teddy Roosevelt's book on the 1812 Navy? I have not but I have heard that it is still referenced and considered authoritative. The build up story is a good one which probably deserves its own post. Have you considered writing an article of your own, that would be a pretty good subject for hubski.

You are correct in that the surprising early American victories were shocking and embarrassing to the British, but with only a few warships, the US could not hope to defeat the British in anything but isolated engagements. The British blockade had a real tangible effect on the North. Yankees started building their own factories to create finished goods. On my "Today in History" section for February 22nd, I mentioned the opening of the first cotton to cloth factory in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1813 which began to counteract the embargo. I read a really good book 2 years ago about the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the US. Small manufacturers in NY and Mass began producing finished goods for settlers moving west. The Erie Canal and Fulton's steamboat played big roles in developing intra-US trade.

February 16th was the anniversary of Decatur sneaking into the Tripoli Harbor to destroy the captured USS Philadelphia. Decatur is on my list of people to write about. He was a 19th century superhero.