Book excerpt: This is a must have book for anyone interested in learning more about the War of 1812 and the following years when the British were determined to take back the colonies. This comprehensive book is the first to chronicle both wars and document the sites on which they were fought. It sheds light on how the wars led to the forced removal of Native Americans from the region, secured the Gulf South against European powers, facilitated increased migration into the area, furthered the development of slavebased agriculture and launched the career of Andrew Jackson.