While attending Columbia Law School and living in Manhattan, Roosevelt began completing research on a book he had started while still at Harvard.

He tried (yet arguably failed, as he admitted he may in the text) to analyze the facts as unbiasedly as possible, looking at both American and British documents from the period, as well as some others from Continental Europe.

Roosevelt's analysis of each crew and commanders role in particular battles leaves the reader with no doubts as to who should receive glory and who should be shamed.

However, he does note that this victory was largely moral; the small, singular battles did not have a major effect on Britain's naval arsenal.

His conclusion has been criticised for not taking tonnage and materiel wealth into account, nor how the Royal Navy was overstretched and undermanned at the time.

The naval war, he notes, gave the American people confidence; since on land their army was consistently beaten, with some exceptions, such as the Battle of New Orleans.