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| casualties1 =21,000

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}}The '''War of 1812''' was a war declared by the United States against Britain (and its empire), lasting from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815. The causes involved three American grievances against Britain: suppressing American trade with France,<ref> According to [[Franklin Roosevelt]], "We engaged in the War of 1812 to vindicate our right to peaceful trade." [http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/historicspeeches/roosevelt_franklin/fourfreedoms.html]</ref> impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and supplying and inciting hostile Indian raids in the west that attacked American settlers headed to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. The Americans also felt a strong need to uphold national honor in the face of British insults.  The Americans did not seek to permanently take over Canada, but wanted to seize western Ontario as a bargaining chip.  The main British war goal was to defeat France and therefore stop neutrals like the U.S. from helping France. Britain also wanted to assert its dominance of the seas. A secondary British goal was the creation of a "neutral" Indian state in the area of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, that would be "guided" (or controlled) by Britain and serve to block American expansion.<ref>Canadian opinion was not consulted, but the people favored the British and feared the Americans because they opposed monarchy and Catholicism. Relatively few Canadians volunteered to fight the Americans; the fighting was done by British regulars and their Indian allies.</ref>  The war followed a series of failed efforts by the U.S. to use economic pressure through the [[Embargo of 1807]]. Britain acted too late diplomatically to head off the conflict. 

}}The '''War of 1812''' was fought between the United States and Britain and lasted from June 18, 1812 until February 18, 1815. Americans had several grievances against Britain: suppressing American trade with France, impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and supplying and inciting hostile Indian tribes in the West. These specific grievances counted for less than the feeling many Americans had at this time that Britain did not respect U.S. sovereignty. For its part, Britain felt that emergency measures it took were justified by the struggle against [[Napoleon]].

The fighting at sea was characterized by a tight British blockade that shut down most American shipping, together with some dramatic naval battles that added glory to the small U.S. Navy. On land the war was a draw characterized by a series of invasions launched by the U.S. against Canada, and by the British against Washington, New York state, and New Orleans. All the invasions were abject failures. By late 1814, with Napoleon gone and Britain friends with France, and the Indian tribes defeated, the causes for the war had largely vanished, and a treaty was agreed to that left the prewar boundaries unchanged.   

The Americans did not seek to permanently take over Canada, but wanted to seize western Ontario as a bargaining chip. The main British war goal was to defeat France and therefore stop neutrals like the U.S. from helping France. Britain also wanted to assert its dominance of the seas. A secondary British goal was the creation of a "neutral" Indian state in the area of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, that would be "guided" (or controlled) by Britain and serve to block American expansion.<ref>Canadian opinion was not consulted, but the people favored the British and feared the Americans because they opposed monarchy and Catholicism. Relatively few Canadians volunteered to fight the Americans; the fighting was done by British regulars and their Indian allies.</ref>  

Although the war was a draw, Americans celebrated a great victory--many called it their Second War of Independence-- and acclaimed General [[Andrew Jackson]] a national hero for his decisive victory at New Orleans. In Canada, anti-American and pro-British elements celebrated the repulse of an American invasion.  Just as the peace took hold, Napoleon returned and the British had to deal with him; they largely forgot about the war.

In January 1807, the British issued "Orders in Council" providing for a blockade of France. The U.S. responded with the [[Embargo of 1807]]. The War Hawks, a Congressional faction that first appeared after the election of 1810, played a role in raising tensions. The War Hawks were appointed to leadership positions in Congress at the end 1811. In January 1812, Congress approved a military buildup in preparation for war. War was declared in June. Britain revoked the Orders in Council at about the same time. However, the change of heart was too late to head off war.

 

The war began with a disastrous U.S. invasion of Ontario led by William Hull. Hull's force surrendered and a British counteroffensive took Detroit. The Battle of the Thames in October 1813 was the turning point of the war. The fighting at sea was characterized by a tight British blockade that shut down most American shipping, together with some dramatic naval battles that added glory to the small U.S. Navy. When the Napoleonic wars ended, the British could move large forces to North America and go on the offensive. They attacked Washington, New York state, and New Orleans. All these invasions were abject failures. By late 1814, with Napoleon gone, Britain friends with France, and the Indian tribes defeated, the causes for the war had largely vanished. A treaty was agreed to that left the prewar boundaries unchanged. 

 

Americans celebrated a great victory--many called it their Second War of Independence--and acclaimed General [[Andrew Jackson]] a national hero for his decisive victory at New Orleans. In Canada, anti-American and pro-British elements celebrated the repulse of an American invasion.  Just as the peace took hold, Napoleon returned and the British had to deal with him; they largely forgot about the war.

[[Image:1812cause.jpg|thumb]]

[[Image:1812cause.jpg|thumb]]

==Origins==

==Origins==

With Britain engaged in a life-and-death war with France, the efforts of a small country like the U.S. to remain neutral were futile. The British Royal Navy controlled the seas and stopped American shipments headed to France. Worse, the Royal Navy, needing more men, boarded American merchant ships and "impressed" (seized) 6000 sailors who were American citizens but had been born in Britain. Finally Americans were convinced that the British were using their base in western Canada to supply and encourage Indian raids on American frontier settlements.  

With Britain engaged in a life-and-death war with France, the efforts of a small country like the U.S. to remain neutral were futile. The British Royal Navy controlled the seas and stopped American shipments headed to France. Worse, the Royal Navy, needing more men, boarded American merchant ships and "impressed" (seized) 6000 sailors who were American citizens but had been born in Britain. Finally Americans were convinced that the British were using their base in western Canada to supply and encourage Indian raids on American frontier settlements.