| | + | On 18 June 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain for impressment of sailors and interference with commerce. The Royal Navy responded by blockading the American coast, although a number of United States warships were able to slip through the blockaders. These warships took aim at enemy naval and merchant ships, winning several courageuos victories in ship-to-ship actions. A particularly notable one would be the victory by Captain [[Isaac Hull]] in the [[USS Constitution]] 9often called "Old Ironsides") over the HMS Guerriere. |