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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 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>   

In January 1807, the British issued "Orders in Council" to prevent neutral nations like the U.S. from trading with France. The U.S. responded with the [[Embargo of 1807]]. The War Hawks, a Congressional faction that 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 of 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.

In January 1807, the British issued "Orders in Council" to prevent neutral nations like the U.S. from trading with France. The U.S. responded with the [[Embargo of 1807]]. After the embargo collapsed in 1809, Congress dithered over what to do next. In response to accusations that the British aided the [[Tecumseh]] revolt, the West elected the War Hawks to Congress in 1810. This was a small faction, but it had fiery speakers and a clear program. The War Hawks were appointed to leadership positions in Congress at the end of 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.   

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.