This is a map of the War of 1812. This image is was found on Britanica Elementary School.

The War of 1812 was an important war for American history. Despite this the War of 1812 also got the name the Forgotten War since it isn't taught in school very often. Prior to the war Britain and France were fighting a war in the early 1800s. The U.S. didn't fight in that war but did supply both sides with resources and France and Britain tried to stop the U.S. from trading with the other. 

This made the U.S. pass the Embargo Act which stopped trade with Europe. Even with the embargo Britain had started to capture U.S. ships and sailors and forced them to work for the British. This riled up the colonists along with new settlers in America who claimed that Britain had got Native Americans to attack them. 

This resulted in a group led by Henry Clay called war hawks that clamored for war on Britain. This got then president James Madison to sign war against Britain on June 18, 1812. This would be the second time America would fight a war against Britain with the first being the American Revolution. 

The war ended on December 25th with the Treaty of Ghent neither side gained much from the war. Despite this the bloodiest battle of the war was fought on February 17 1815 in New Orleans.