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The War of 1812 was a three year war that was between [[England]] and the [[United States of America]].

The '''War of 1812''' was a three-year conflict between the [[Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] and the [[United States of America]], lasting from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815. The war resulted in little change, and neither side claimed victory in the subsequent [[Treaty of Ghent]].

==Reasons for War==

==Reasons for War==

There are a number of reasons for war being declared. One of which was the fact that Britain was conscripting Americans to the navy. Britain also interfered with American trade with [[France]], who Britain was at war with. Also at issue was the practice of impressment, which Americans did not enjoy. Finally, Britain also supported hostile Native Americans who were blocking settlement to what is now of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.<ref>Stagg (1983)</ref>

At the time, Europe was embrioled in the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. The [[France|French]] [[Napoleon Bonaparte|Emperor]] was rapidly expanding his territories, and an alliance, including Britian, was set against him. The United States, as urged by [[George Washington]] in his Farewell Address, had declared neutrality. Both England and France, however, sought to sabotage and/or restrict American efforts to trade with their enemy. Because Britain had a superior navy, the British attempts were more successful, and compounded the grievence of impressment. Because of this, the French incursions were largely disregarded by the American public.

The British Royal Navy suffered from low enlistment rates, and to 'recruit' new sailors, British vessels frequently boarded American merchant ships, under pretences of reclaiming deserters. Most notable of such encounters was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair of 1807. The HMS Leopard fired upon and boarded the USS Chesapeake in American coastal waters, killing three and impressing four. Three of the 'deserters' were actually American citizens.

Napoleon in 1806 issued his Continental System, which put an embargo on trade with Britain. In response, Britain issued the Orders in Council, blockinig trade with France. To avoid a declaration of war, President [[Thomas Jefferson]] pushed for an Embargo Act in 1807. This law prohibited the United States from trading with any foreign nations. This proved disasterous to the New England shipping industry, and was quickly repealed and replaced with he Non-Intercourse Act.

The Non-Intercourse Act was slightly more effective than the Embargo Act, but still did not achieve much. This act prohibited trade solely with beligerent nations, in an effort to continue trade but remain neutral. [[James Madison]], the new President, also ensured that if one country recognized the free trade rights of the United States, the US would cease trade with its enemy and resume trade with that country. Napoleon quickly promised to stop interference with American shipping, and the embargo resumed on British goods. Napoleon, who had no intention of following through on his promise, only wished to add to the American-British tension, and he succeeded.  

-indian raids <ref>Stagg (1983)</ref>

 

 

==The War==

==The War==