On 18 June 1812, American President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, marking the first time the United States formally declared war on another nation.
Key reasons for the declaration included British naval practices, particularly the forced conscription of American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy, and trade restrictions imposed on the United States as a result of Britain’s ongoing war with France.
Another major factor was British support for Native American tribes resisting U.S. westward expansion.
The conflict, which lasted two and a half years, saw battles involving British forces, Canadian colonists, and various Native American groups. The war officially ended on 18 February 1815.
