War of 1812

In this episode, we focus on the War of 1812, a pivotal conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom that lasted from 1812 to 1815. We explore the war’s major causes, including British maritime restrictions, the impressment of American sailors, and British support for Indigenous resistance to U.S. expansion. The episode follows the fighting across the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Gulf Coast, highlighting key events such as the burning of Washington and the Battle of New Orleans. We also examine the roles of Indigenous allies and escaped slaves, the Treaty of Ghent’s return to pre-war borders, and the war’s lasting impact on national identity in both the United States and Canada.