Chapter 6 

War of 1812 Summary

Outline Summary of the War of 1812 (1810–1815)

Randy Vice, 

B.S.E., Jacksonville State University

M.A., The University of Alabama

EdS. , Lincoln Memorial University


I. Background and Causes (1810–1812)


II. Key Events and Battles (1812–1814)


III. The Final Phase and Conclusion (1815)


IV. Legacy and Impact


NARRATIVE SUMMARY OF THE WAR OF 1812

The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain that lasted from 1812 to 1815. The war had several causes, including British restrictions on American trade, British support for Native American attacks on American settlers, and the desire by some Americans to expand into Canada. American Congressmen who wanted war with Great Britain were called Hawks and those who wanted peace were called Doves.

The war began when the U.S. declared war on Britain in June 1812. President James Madison had been under constant pressure after the British had seized U.S. ships and sailors.  At first, the American military was unprepared, and there were early defeats, especially in battles along the Canadian border. However, the U.S. Navy had some victories, and American forces won key battles, such as the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, which made Andrew Jackson a national hero.

One of the major issues was the British practice of impressment, where they forced American sailors to serve in the British Navy. This angered many Americans and was a big reason for declaring war. Despite the fighting, neither side really gained much ground, and the war ended in a stalemate with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814. The treaty restored pre-war boundaries and didn't address the issues that caused the war, but both sides were tired of fighting.

The War of 1812 had several long-term effects. It helped build a sense of national pride and identity in the U.S., even though there were no clear winners. It also led to the decline of Native American resistance in the west, as the British, who had been helping them, were no longer as involved. The war also led to the collapse of the Federalist Party, which had opposed the war, and marked the beginning of the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of political unity in the U.S.