War of 1812

In the early 1800s, Great Britain was embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars of Europe and faced a shortage of soldiers due to casualties and desertion. To bolster their forces, Great Britain began to seize American ships and impress sailors believed to be deserters into the Navy. Additionally, Great Britain passed the Order of Councils to restrict the sale of American goods to France. These practices angered Americans, and on June 18, 1812, the US declared war on Great Britain. Split between the war in the Americas and the war in Europe, Great Britain struggled to counter American attacks in the Northwest Territory and the South. Both sides traded victories and defeats at York, Chesapeake Bay, and Washington D.C. among others. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814, though several skirmishes occurred afterwards.