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When the United States declared war on Great Britain, Great Britain was already at war with France.
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Factors that led to the War of 1812 were foreign trade policies, Native Americans were being armed by the British, U.S. soldiers were being forced to serve on British Navy ships, the British believed that the U.S. wanted to occupy Canada, and the U.S. felt dishonored by the British.
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During the War of 1812 approximately 3,000 American slaves escaped to Canada.
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The main weapon of the War of 1812 was the muzzle-loading musket. It fired a lead ball. The musket could only fire as far as 100 yards while rifles could fire as far as 300 yards away.
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The U.S. believed that once the war started that Canadians would be on their side instead the Canadians repelled the Americans and held their ground.
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A Canadian heroine named Laura Secord walked 20 miles from American-occupied territory to warn the British of an impending attack by the Americans. She is honored by Canadians and remembered for her bravery.
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The final battle of the War of 1812 was fought on January 8th, 1815.
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2,260 Americans died during the War of 1812. 4,505 soldiers were wounded. Another 15,000 Americans died from other causes related to the war, including disease.
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1,600 British soldiers died in action and 3,670 were wounded. Another 3,321 British died from other causes related to the war, including disease. These numbers do not include Native American deaths or Canadian deaths.
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More soldiers died during the War of 1812 from disease than from battle.
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Major battles in 1812 included Fort St. Joseph and the Capture of Michilimackinac, Fort Malden or Amherstburg and the Capture of Detroit, and Queenston Heights and the Death of Brock.
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Major battles in 1813 include Prescott and the Capture of Ogdensburg, Capture of York, Battle of Fort George, Battle of Stoney Creek, Battle of Beaver Dams, British Defeat of the Detroit the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of the Thames, and the Failed American campaign against Montreal, the Battles of Chateauguay and Crysler's Farm.
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Major battles in 1814 include the Battle of Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, and the Siege of Fort Erie.
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When the War of 1812 began the British had 600 ships and the United States only had 18.
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Both Britain and the United States spent approximately $105 million on the War of 1812.
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The White House was burned down during the War of 1812 (in 1814).
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