This day (June 18) in 1812 marks the beginning of the War of 1812 after the U.S., under the presidency of James Madison, declared war on Great Britain. There were three major reasons for this declaration: Britain’s economic blockade of France, the capturing of American seaman and forcing them to serve in the British Royal Navy against their will, and Britain’s support of warring Native American tribes in the Great Lakes frontier.
It was in this war that the White House and Capitol were burned by the British when they captured Washington, D.C., in August 1814.
The war was ended when the Treaty of Ghent (Belgium) was signed December 24, 1814. The last actions of the war, however, took place in 1815, because communications were slow. One of the most significant battles fought in the war was the Battle of New Orleans, which was won by General Andrew Jackson’s American forces on January 8, 1815. The United States ratified the Treaty of Ghent on February 17, 1815.
Of the most significant outcomes of this war, which has been called “a second war of independence,” and its treaty is the peaceful relationship between the United States and Great Britain, a peace that has lasted to this day. Other results of the war include: The Star Spangled Banner, the increased establishment of the United States as a naval power, the expansion of the Great Lakes region, and a defined border with Canada.
The War of 1812 in Our Catalog
To start your study of the War of 1812, we have the following resources currently in our catalog. The selection is always subject to change, so visit often. You can also see our dedicated page on the War of 1812 by using the gray navigation bar at the top of the page: Shop by Subject > History, Geography, Government > Military History Index > 19th Century > War of 1812.
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American Government: Great Lives (Hardback)
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Cornerstones of Freedom: The Story of Old Ironsides (Hardback)
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Cornerstones of Freedom: The Story of The Capitol (Hardback)
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Cornerstones of Freedom: The Story of The Constitution (Hardback)
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Cornerstones of Freedom: The Story of The White House (Hardback)
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Kids Discover Magazine: Washington, D.C. (Paperback)
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Save Our History: The White House: 200th Anniversary, Teacher’s Manual, Grades K-12 (Paperback)
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The American President (Hardback)
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