In the years immediately preceding the War of 1812, England was dominated by a faction that pledged itself not only to defeat Napoleon but also to maintain British commercial supremacy. The two main points of contention between England and America-impressment and the restrictions imposed by the Orders in Council-were direct results of these commitments. America finally had no alternative but to oppose with force British maritime policy. In addition...

Focuses on the American Revolution, including its historical background and aftermath.

Describes the Boston Tea Party, including the events leading up to the party, its immediate effects on American-British relations, and why it is still an important event today.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Splendid and the Vile brings to life the pivotal five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln and the start of the Civil War in this “riveting reexamination of a nation in tumult” (Los Angeles Times).

“A feast of historical insight and narrative verve . . . This is Erik Larson at his best, enlivening even a thrice-told tale...