America and England were last at war with each other from June 1812 to December 1814. War broke out for two reasons: first, America’s expanding trade was threatened because the British were maintaining a blockade to prevent supplies reaching the French, with whom they were at war; secondly, there was a growing sense of nationalism in America, a feeling that she must fight to preserve her independence, sovereignty and honour.
When war was declared by President Madison, the Americans immediately invaded Canada, but were driven back. In 1813, after talk of an armistice came to nothing, more skirmishes broke out on the Canadian border and British sailors began to raid the American coast. By October 1814 it became clear that the Americans could not successfully invade Canada, while the British Navy could do no more than harry the coasts of America.
The chief sufferers were the merchants of New England. Also the financial state of the American government was so bad that it had no money to pay its bills abroad. Governor strong of Massachusetts openly spoke against the war, and was suspected of planning to take his state over to the British.
However, no one in Britain wanted to fight the War of independence all over again. The desire was to trade with and not to fight against the United States. On December 24, 1814 the Treaty of Ghent was signed and the war was over. Neither side gained.
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