June 18: U.S. declares war on Great Britain, marking the official start of the War of 1812.

July 12: American forces invade Canada but are repelled at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

August 16: Americans suffer a defeat at the Battle of Brown's Town.

August 24: British troops capture and burn Washington, D.C., including the White House and Capitol.

September 13: The U.S. successfully defends Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."

January 22: American forces win the Battle of Frenchtown in Canada.

September 10: Battle of Lake Erie—American naval victory secures control of the lake.

October 5: Battle of the Thames—American victory leads to the death of Tecumseh.

March 27: Battle of Horseshoe Bend—Andrew Jackson defeats the Creek Indians.

August 24: British troops again invade and burn Washington, D.C.

September 11: American victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh secures the northern border.

December 15: Hartford Convention begins, where New England Federalists discuss opposition to the war.

January 8: Battle of New Orleans—Andrew Jackson leads a decisive American victory against the British, though the treaty ending the war was signed weeks earlier.

February 17: The Treaty of Ghent is ratified, officially ending the war.

The war solidifies American nationalism and promotes the concept of a standing military.

The Federalist Party declines after the war, largely due to its opposition to the conflict.

Relations between the U.S. and Britain improve over the following decades.

April 27: The British capture Fort Niagara, further asserting their control in the Great Lakes region.