BETHEL — The Bethel Historical Society hosted a full house of nearly 80 people for the second annual Stanley Russell Howe Lecture on Aug. 2.

The presenter was Dr. Alan Taylor, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and professor of history at the University of California. His topic was “The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels and Indian Allies.”

This year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and it is the subject of Dr. Taylor’s new book. The speaker pointed out that in the early 19th century, the British and Americans renewed their struggle over the legacy of the American Revolution.

In this second confrontation, soldiers, immigrants, settlers and Indians fought to determine whether revolutionary republicanism would sweep the British from Canada or if the British would contain, divide and ruin the shaky republic.

Taylor presented highlights of the war in an effort to shed light on the tangled origins of the United States and Canada.

After his presentation, he answered a number of questions and then signed copies of his book. For those who were unable to attend, the society has a small number of signed copies in its museum shop.

For more information on the society, call 824-2908 or 800-824-2910 or e-mail [email protected].