One of the British ships named Leopold stopped the U.S, a ship named Chesapeake, they requested that 4 soldiers be taken off the ship. When the Chesapeake captain refused this the British opened fire and tried to take them off with force. But the Americans weren't going to go down easily so they shot back and defended their ground. This event angered many Americans and made them dislike the British even more. Because this wasn't the first time the British were forcing Americans to be taken off their own ship.

The Embargo Act was passed by Congress in 1807. This Act stated that no foreign ships could enter any U.S. ports and no American ships could leave. The only time that a ship would be allowed to leave is to trade with another U.S. port. Thomas Jefferson said that with this Act and not trading with them that they would stop harming their boats. But the Act was actually much more harder on the Americans than anyone else because they were not able to trade and get goods from others.

James Madison was elected office in 1809. He was going to try a new approach to protecting the Americans at sea. The deal was with France and with Great Britain which said that if you cease fire with American ships then we will stop trading with your enemy. France said that they would do it but continued to fight against American ships. Same with the British. Madison had nothing else to do and he couldn't think of anything else as well. So he decided to go to war against Great Britain in hopes to get Canada as a reward.

Admiral Oliver Perry was placed in command of the Lake Erie area. He was tasked with creating a fleet that would challenge the British control. The British tried to blockade this fleet but the Americans fought back and didn't let the British take control. On the morning of September 10, 1813, Perry ordered that his two largest ships be taken to fight the British longer ranged ships. Perry ships was the only ship that ended up attacking but he fled before he and all he troops died. Perry then had the Niagara and other small ships and attacked the British front lines. Then the British surrendered their two largest ships and the Americans had won.

Andrew Jackson and an army of Tennessee militia attacked Chief Menawa and his Upper Creek. The Red Sticks fought very bravely but in the end ultimately lost the battle. The warriors died defending their homeland. The women and children were taken and put to work by the Cherokee that helped the Americans. But Andrew Jackson won because of the fact that he got National attention which later had him be elected president in 1828. The Battle of Horseshoe Bend effectively ended the Creek War and made Andrew Jackson a National hero and a major general in the U.S. army.

On August 24, 1814, American forces dug outside of Bladensburg and were staying to guard their ground against the British. Only about 6 miles away from the Capital. The Americans outnumbered the British with about 6,000 troops and also with the weapons and artillery. But the British marched 15 miles over a bridge to the Americans where militiamen were fleeing almost immediately. The commander in charge of the city's defense was trying to get his troops back together but they were still scared. First the British stopped at the Capital and piled up furniture to burn and the Capital was burning down minutes later. Then they went to the White House to burn it down as well.

Fort McHenry was a large fortress to help guard Baltimore's inner harbor at the Patapsco River. The British plan was to send troops to the eastern side of the city and for the Navy to reduce the fort. The fort blocks the British advance towards the city of Baltimore. For the next 27 hours tons of cannon balls are fired on the British boat and on the American's fort. The British now think that there is no way to reach Baltimore so they stop firing. The next morning the Americans flag is raised to show how America won. There was a sailor on one of the British ships who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner", his name was Francis Scott Key.

The peace treaty was signed on December 24, 1814 but the word had not reached the Americas yet so they still fought this battle. The British marched against New Orleans hoping to capture the city. But they were unable to get through the Americans defenses. Half an hour after the attack they retreated because they were losing badly. Nearly 2,000 of General Pakenham troops were dead along with himself. While only 8 of the U.S. forces were dead and 13 injured.

The Treaty of Ghent is an agreement between the United States and Great Britain made in Belgium to end the War of 1812. They made this because both military positions were well balanced neither of them could gain any reward or land. No mention was made in the Treaty about impressment which was one of the main reasons why the Americans went to war. But the people that were left out of the whole deal are the Native Americans or also known as Indians. This Treaty helped so that America could now not have to worry about which land is whose and that they aren't still in war.

Impressment is when one ship goes on to another ship and forces sailors to come off and work on their ship. The British Royal Navy forced American Seamen off of their ships in the 1800's. Which was a major cause of the War of 1812. Americans at that time did not like the Impressment and viewed it as hatred and dislike towards the Americans. The British did this for around 1,000 ships and the Americans finally had enough. They did this so that they couldn't trade to their enemy country. This was just one major reason for The War of 1812.