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| casualties1 =21,000

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}}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 the emergency measures it took were justified by the struggle against [[Napoleon]].

}}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. The specific grievances counted for less than the feeling that many Americans had at this time that Britain did not respect U.S. sovereignty. It was "a war for honour, like that of the Greeks against Troy," as Virginia Republican John Taylor put it.<ref>Wood, Gordon S. ''Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815'' (Oxford History of the United States Book 4) (p. 313). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. p. 659.</ref> For its part, Britain felt that the emergency measures it took were justified by the struggle against [[Napoleon]].

In January 1807, the British issued "Orders in Council" to prevent neutral nations like the U.S. from trading with France. President [[Thomas Jefferson]] responded with the [[Embargo of 1807]]. After the embargo collapsed in 1809, Jefferson's successor [[James Madison]] tried other forms of economic pressure. In response to accusations that the British aided the [[Tecumseh]] revolt, voters in the South and West elected a group of congressman called the "War Hawks" in 1810. This was a small faction, but it had fiery speakers and a clear program. By the middle of 1811, Madison's strategy of using economic pressure had reached a dead end. The president was faced with the choice of going to war or confessing failure on the policy that had long been his administration's top priority. He decided to share responsibility for the coming war with the War Hawks, who were promoted to leadership positions in the House of Representatives at the end of 1811. A group of measures approved in early April were understood as preliminary to war. Madison requested war on June 1. The vote in Congress was close and the outcome in the Senate was uncertain for a time. War was declared on June 18. In May, Britain had offered to license U.S. merchant ships on the same basis that British merchant ships were licensed. In June, it had revoked the Orders in Council altogether. These moves came 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, voters in the South and 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 an enlargement of the army. A second round of military measures approved in early April was understood as final preparation for war. War was declared in June. Britain revoked the Orders in Council at about the same time. However, this change of heart occurred 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.   

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.

At the end of the war, Americans celebrated a great victory. They 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]]

===Myths of the origins===

===Myths of the origins===

Many Canadians falsely believe that a main cause of the war was American expansionism or desire for Canadian land. The topic was much discussed among historians before 1940, but is rarely cited by experts any more.<ref> it was refuted by [http://www.jstor.org/pss/1896211 Warren H. Goodman, "The Origins of the War of 1812: A Survey of Changing Interpretations," ''Mississippi Valley Historical Review'', v 28 (September, 1941), 171-86. in JSTOR].</ref> The myth was propounded after the war by pro-British Canadians who tried to incite anti-Americanism.<ref> W. Arthur Bowler, "Propaganda in Upper Canada in the War of 1812," ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' (1988) 28:11-32; C.P. Stacey, "The War of 1812 in Canadian History" in Morris Zaslow and Wesley B. Turner, eds. ''The Defended Border: Upper Canada and the War of 1812'' (Toronto, 1964)</ref>

Many Canadians falsely believe that a main cause of the war was American expansionism or desire for Canadian land. The topic was much discussed among historians before 1940, but is rarely cited by experts any more.<ref> it was refuted by [http://www.jstor.org/pss/1896211 Warren H. Goodman, "The Origins of the War of 1812: A Survey of Changing Interpretations," ''Mississippi Valley Historical Review'', v 28 (September, 1941), 171-86. in JSTOR].</ref> The myth was propounded after the war by pro-British Canadians who tried to incite anti-Americanism.<ref> W. Arthur Bowler, "Propaganda in Upper Canada in the War of 1812," ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' (1988) 28:11-32; C.P. Stacey, "The War of 1812 in Canadian History" in Morris Zaslow and Wesley B. Turner, eds. ''The Defended Border: Upper Canada and the War of 1812'' (Toronto, 1964)</ref>