The War of 1812 (18121815) was a conflict fought between the United States, the United Kingdom, and their respective allies. Historians in Britain often see it as a minor theater of the Napoleonic Wars; in the United States and Canada, it is seen as a war in its own right.

Since the outbreak of war with Napoleonic France, Britain had enforced a naval blockade to choke off neutral trade to France, which the United States contested as illegal under international law. To man the blockade, Britain impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy. Incidents such as the "ChesapeakeLeopard" Affair inflamed anti-British sentiment. In 1811, the British were in turn outraged by the "Little Belt" Affair, in which 11 British sailors died. British political support for a Native American buffer state, which conducted raids on American settlers on the frontier, hindered American expansion. On June 18, 1812, President James Madison, after receiving heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress, signed the American declaration of war into law. Senior figures such as Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereagh believed it to have been an opportunistic ploy to annex Canada while Britain was fighting a war with France. The view was shared in much of New England.

1. Who signed a declaration for America?
2. When did he do it?
3. What specific declaration was it?
4. Which war did this begin?
5. Who was it between?
6. Did the Brits view it as part of a larger engagement?
7. Which one?
8. What other country was a major player in that conflict?
9. Which country had a naval blockade imposed on them?
10. Did the US believe this was legal?
11. What did the Brits do to keep the blockade running?
12. How long did the American war last?
13. Did people believe this conflict was an attempt to add more territory to the US?
14. Which people in particular?
15. Was this opinion common in much of the South?

Numbered answers:
1. James Madison
2. 1812
3. American declaration of war
4. The War of 1812
5. he United States, the United Kingdom, and their respective allies
6. Yes
7. the Napoleonic Wars
8. Canada
9. France
10. No
11. impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy
12. 3 years
13. Yes
14. Senior figures such as Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereagh
15. No