The War of 1812 is often regarded as something of a minor or even "lost" war in American history, frequently being cast as a kind of footnote between the Revolution and the Civil War. To the people living through the war, however, it was anything but inessential or anomalous; it was a conflict with the British empire that challenged nascent American nationalism and forced Americans to confront both the strengths and weaknesses of their young republic. The war thus presented its citizens with a series of critical questions about what independence really meant.

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and the British Empire. At the time, Britain was fighting Napoleon’s France across Europe and was stops American vessels at will. The crews of these vessels were forced into British service under the claim that they were deserters and compelled to serve in the British navy against the country where they were born. This affront to the sovereign status of the United States was a sufficient cause for war, but there were other factors as well. Trade restrictions, imposed by Britain in the name of preparing for war against France, were severely restricting the profits of American merchant ships.

The expansion of the United States into new lands and the defeat of the British provided two opportunities for Native Americans to defend their land and way of life. From the perspective of most Americans, the issue centered on whether or not the U.S. would expand into the unclaimed lands westward, including territories of Native American tribes. The British support of certain Native American tribes appeared to many Americans to be a major obstacle to the country’s destiny. However, for Native Americans, this war was not about expansion; it was a fight for their land, for their freedom, and for their way of life. For them, these goals were not new; but the war presented new circumstances in which to defend them, circumstances whose impact would last for decades and shape the future of American history.

Fighting was intensifying across the board with each theatre of war presenting their own unique challenges. North of the Great Lakes the struggle was focused on gaining control of vital waterways; rivers and lakes that comprised the backbone of the country’s transportation network. The combat was not on the same scale as what was unfolding abroad during World War II, yet it proved intense and highly unpredictable. Inclement weather, treacherous terrain and the incompetence of mediocre commanders all combined to deny victory to the larger armed forces locked in a gruelling struggle for national supremacy.

British troops flowed into the war on the Atlantic seaboard, pouring troops into several theatres where the focus was on using Britain’s naval supremacy to surround and blockade several major ports and cities. The troops also conducted campaigns of forage and raid on local towns and cities, taking what supplies they could by plunder and firing buildings in the process. Some of the towns and cities that were hardest hit were those that were primarily commercial centres, dependent on large numbers of merchant vessels entering and leaving their harbours on a regular basis. The American military effort often prevented the British from capturing a town or city in time, but when this was not possible, the Red Coats would resort to terrorising local communities, often with notable success. The war at sea between the two nations was perhaps a little surprising to the British, who expected to be able to defeat their opponents with ease. Instead, the tiny American naval force scored several victories against much larger British squadrons.

The US military was also inexperienced fighting on dry land, with battles being fought by regular troops, militia, and National Guard units – inept military support groups, and often equally inept civilian support groups. The plans and operations almost seemed doomed to failure from the very start. Yet despite these disadvantages, the US military somehow managed to survive and slowly improve.

Although the Treaty of Ghent (December 1814) was a "treaty of status quo" and did not resolve most of the critical issues of the war, the conflict had a profound impact on the lives and consciousness of the American people. Following the treaties of Paris of 1783, the United States had entered a period of isolation and decline from its status as a revolutionary power. The wars of 1812-1815 reestablished the fact that the United States was once again a world power. Its triumph over the greatest power on earth, coupled with its survival and dignity intact, brought a new Americanism and a renewed sense of national unity.

For sixty years after the War of 1812 the conflict lived on in the memories of the last veterans, in the writing of men who had served in the war, and in the rhetoric of politicians determined to demonstrate the United States’ relative military strength, sovereignty, and world stature despite the fact that it had not emerged the clear victor in the conflict.