The War of 1812

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire between the years of 1812 and 1815. John C. Calhoun referred to the war as the "Second American Revolution" in the sense that the American republic would attempt to defend herself while still upholding the Constitution. The war was fought in the eastern United States, from Canada frontier to New Orleans, and off of the American coastline from Maine to Georgia, as well as the Great Lakes. The war officially started on 18 June 1812.

The war with the British was an inevitable consequence numerous events prior to 1812. Britain issued the Orders in Council, a decree whereby the British impressment of American sailors began in 1804 as an attempt to thwart the economy of Napoleonic France. As Britain's war with France continued until late 1814, so too did the increase in sailor impressment.

The U.S. Capitol after the burning of Washington d...

English: 1882 studio portrait of the (then) last s...

United States

The newly acquisitioned Louisiana Territory in 1803 and the desire for Spanish Florida and Canada gave more motivation for war with Britain-Britain owned Canada and was allies with the Spanish of Florida. "Frontiersmen", as they were known, desired for expansion and conquest to the North, South, and West, and upon taking fort at Baton Rouge, asked the federal government to annex the territory. The "war hawks" were representatives from both Republican and Federalist parties that eagerly supported war with Britain and were fevered advocates of territorial expansion.

The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812. It was signed on 24 December 1814, and took effect on 18 February 1815. The treaty returned all territory to the prewar claimant, gave the United States fishing rights in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and established the boundary between the United States and Canada. The Treaty of Ghent however did not address any...