The War of 1812

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war for the first time in its history. President James Madison signed the declaration against Great Britain following a deeply divided vote in Congress. The grievances were severe. The British Royal Navy had been boarding American ships and forcing thousands of sailors into its service, a practice known as impressment. Britain had also seized hundreds of American vessels to block trade with Napoleonic France. On the frontier, Americans accused the British of arming Native American tribes to halt westward expansion. But in a tragic twist of timing, the British government had already voted to repeal the trade restrictions two days before the declaration. The news just hadn't crossed the Atlantic in time to prevent a war.