On June 18th, 1812, the United States of America declared war on the United Kingdom. This conflict lasted 2 years and 7 months, and is often forgotten in the shadow of the Napoleonic Wars. Comparatively, this was a minor conflict; the most interesting part would be the White House burning down. Still, what led to this war? What happened before the War of 1812?

National Outlook

The American Revolutionary War wasn’t even 40 years old at this point. Enmity between the two countries was still strong. The United States still saw Britain as its principal rival in Europe, as a continuing threat to their independence.

Yet Britain’s outlook was dismissive. They thought of the United States as an upstart nation, not on the same footing as the other European nations. The United Kingdom had to contend with Napoleon at the time. In their view, America was a secondary concern; the French Empire was much closer threat.

Territorial Ambitions

Beyond just mentality, both countries found themselves opposed by territorial ambitions. The United States expanded ever westward after France sold them the territory of Louisiana in 1804. And they still wanted more: Canada and Florida were firmly within their reach. Florida was still a Spanish possession at the time, but Spain was an ally of the United Kingdom.

Britain was also interested in expanding their North American possessions. They wanted to keep Canada safe and to contest American expansion. They formed alliances with the Native American tribes of the Ohio region, providing them with arms and ammunition. America believed Britain was trying to create a buffer state.

Naval Skirmishes & Trade Restrictions

Even before the war started, American and British ships had come to blows. One such event occurred in 1807 when the HMS Leopard attacked the USS Chesapeake. Many of these altercations ended with American sailors being pressed into service in the Royal Navy. The United Kingdom claimed these sailors were British deserters.

As part of the Napoleonic Wars, Britain imposed an embargo and blockade of French ports. If any neutral country wished to trade in these ports, they had to first stop in a British port and let themselves be inspected. The United States saw this as a violation of their neutrality and tried to retaliate with an embargo of their own. This had a worse effect on their own economy.

Failure of Diplomacy

It would be wrong to think both countries silently starred at each other. But diplomatic efforts to resolve these issues were largely unsuccessful. Unresolved issues from the Revolutionary War—such as the lack of defined borders in the Great Lakes region—strained relations.

There were some breakthroughs before the end; Britain repealed the Orders in Council that restricted American trade. But because of communication delays across the Atlantic, the United States were not aware of this development when they declared war.

Declaration of War

Ultimately, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and the rest of the War Hawks in the United States congress had their way. In June 1812, the United States declared war on the United Kingdom. They viewed Britain’s actions as hostile, challenging their territorial gains, violating their neutrality in the Napoleonic Wars, and tarnishing their honour and sovereignty. Neither side had the means to decisively win the war. Despite the inconclusive end and the relative obscurity, this war was no small stepping stone for the United States.

Hi, I’m David, and I write mostly Fantasy and Science-Fiction. I’ve been crafting fictional worlds for fifteen years, which is what interested me in studying history in the first place. I believe history is a great tool, not only to learn about our world directly, but to craft better universes. The lead-up to wars is often just as interesting as the wars itself, and the leaders stand out just as much as the notable events.