About the Key Players in Dennis Carter-Edwards’ article The War of 1812 Along the Detroit Frontier: A Canadian Perspective

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Dennis Carter-Edwards’ article The War of 1812 Along the Detroit Frontier: A Canadian Perspective covers the theme of local history during the 19th century in Detroit. In particular, Carter-Edwards explores the Canadian perspective of the war of 1812 in the Windsor-Detroit region. The author examines three big categories; the measures that the British took to defended the area, the factors that influenced British decisions, and the power players that played a role on the outcome of the war. The article is an in-depth account of the events and people that were key players in the war, especially in the Canadian context.

To begin, Dennis Carter –Edwards is a historian and works for the Ontario Service Center (Parks Canada); thus this article is a topic that he is an expert. For this particular article, it is interesting to have a Canadian point of view rather than an American experience; because, it is usually the American voices that flood the scholarship. On the other hand, it is interesting to note that the title claims a ‘Canadian Perspective;’ yet, the article is published in the Michigan Historical Review. The Michigan Historical Review is a journal that publishes articles related to Michigan history. Although Carter-Edwards does explore the War of 1812 from both sides of the river, it is peculiar that the article that includes ‘Canadian Perspective’ as part of the title to be published in a Michigan journal rather than a Canadian one.

Initially, Carter-Edwards focuses on the “steps taken by the British to defend their interests along the Detroit River, the factors which influenced British efforts in this theater and the personalities which were to have a dominant influence on the outcome.” The article takes an in-dep...

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...a great percentage of primary sources, he lacks in secondary sources. Secondary sources provide context and hindsight and also demonstrate that other historians agree with the facts.

Dennis Carter-Edwards’ article The War of 1812 Along the Detroit Frontier: A Canadian Perspective is covers the theme of local history during the 19th century. This article was not my cup of tea; I was rather confused and had to re-read many passages. Yet, what I was able to take out of this article was that the War of 1812 was a small war; but, Canadians in the Windsor-Essex region remember this war as an important war in their history. At the bicentennial anniversary, Amherstburg and cities along the coast, had celebrations, re-enactments and displays that were exhibited to the public. Thus, the war of 1812 was one that Canadians can look back and be proud of their achievements.

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