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The '''War of 1812''' was a war declared by the United States against Great Britain (and its Empire), lasting from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815. The causes involved American grievances against Britain for suppressing American trade, impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and inciting hostile Indian raids in the west. Britain, tied down by a much larger war with Napoleon's France, acted too late diplomatically to head off the conflict.  The war followed a series of failed efforts by the U.S. to use economic pressure through the [[Embargo of 1807]].

The '''War of 1812''' was a war declared by the United States against Great Britain (and its Empire), lasting from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815. The causes involved American grievances against Britain for suppressing American trade, impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and inciting hostile Indian raids in the west. Britain, tied down by a much larger war with Napoleon's France, acted too late diplomatically to head off the conflict.  The war followed a series of failed efforts by the U.S. to use economic pressure through the [[Embargo of 1807]].

When a British warship in June 1807 attacked and disabled [[USS Chesapeake|USS ''Chesapeake'']],  and impressed several crewmen, a general wave of indignation rose in which even the maritime interests joined. This was an insult to the flag, but President [[Thomas Jefferson]] decided against war and instead tried to punish Britain by cutting off American trade. This annoyed the British some but outraged New England, where shipping was shut down and the economy badly hurt.<ref> New England started to industrialize to rebuild its economy.</ref>  

When a British warship in June 1807 attacked and disabled [[USS Chesapeake|USS ''Chesapeake'']],  and impressed several crewmen, a general wave of indignation rose in which even the maritime interests joined. This was an insult to the flag, but President [[Thomas Jefferson]] decided against war and instead tried to punish Britain by cutting off American trade. This annoyed the British some but outraged New England, where shipping was shut down and the economy badly hurt.<ref> New England started to industrialize to rebuild its economy.</ref>  

In the South and west, "war hawks," led by young Republicans such as [[Henry Clay]] and [[John C. Calhoun]], demanded war. President [[James Madison]] tried to negotiate. Congress passed "Macon's Bill #2" in 1810 that promised if Britain or France allowed American shipping, the U.S. would put an embargo on the other country. [[Napoleon]] tricked the U.S. into believing, falsely, that France had dropped its restrictions.  Madison then slapped an embargo on trade to Britain (which was by far the largest trading partner of the U.S.).  The British failed to act quickly, and by the time London dropped its restrictions, the U.S. had reached the point of no return. In June 1812, the main cause of the war for the U.S. was defined as the need to protect republican values against British imperialism.  Madison sent a war message to Congress on June 1 listing all the complaints against Britain and asking for a declaration of war. With New England vehemently opposed, Congress declared war on June 18.

In the South and west, "war hawks," led by young Republicans such as [[Henry Clay]] and [[John C. Calhoun]], demanded war. President [[James Madison]] tried to negotiate. Congress passed "Macon's Bill #2" in 1810 that promised if Britain or France allowed American shipping, the U.S. would put an embargo on the other country. [[Napoleon]] tricked the U.S. into believing, falsely, that France had dropped its restrictions.  Madison then slapped an embargo on trade to Britain (which was by far the largest trading partner of the U.S.).  The British failed to act quickly, and by the time London dropped its restrictions, the U.S. had reached the point of no return. In June 1812, the main cause of the war for the U.S. was defined as the need to protect republican values against British imperialism.  Madison sent a war message to Congress on June 1 listing all the complaints against Britain and asking for a declaration of war. With New England vehemently opposed, Congress declared war on June 18. Federalists called it, "Mr. Madison's War."

===Myths of the origins===

===Myths of the origins===

        

        

The British attacks in the Chesapeake Bay region were both high and low points for the American cause. The destruction of Washington after a humiliating defeat was certainly demoralizing. However, the successful defense of Baltimore, and in particular the stirring events around the defense of Fort McHenry that would be enshrined forever in Francis Scott Key’s poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," had a far-reaching impact on the war and on later American history.

The British attacks in the Chesapeake Bay region were both high and low points for the American cause. The destruction of Washington after a humiliating defeat was certainly demoralizing. However, the successful defense of Baltimore, and in particular the stirring events around the defense of Fort McHenry that would be enshrined forever in Francis Scott Key’s poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," had a far-reaching impact on the war and on later American history.

===Lake Champlain===     

===Lake Champlain===