The War of 1812
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The War of 1812 started because of many reasons, including Britain’s seizure of American ships, impressment of American sailors into the British navy and restriction of trade between the United States and France. In June 1812 James Madison became the first U.S. president to ask Congress to declare war. Fought in three theaters, the conflict ended with the Treaty of Ghent in 1815. British troops entered the capital to burn the White House and other government buildings, first lady Dolley Madison refused to evacuate the White House until a portrait of George Washington was rescued. The lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem, are another important legacy of the War of 1812. They were penned by the amateur poet Francis Scott Key after he watched American forces withstand the British siege of Fort McHenry. The War included a few failed Invasions of British Canada which were met with AMerican defeats. The British throughout the war mostly attacked coastal citys which they would ransack and burn to the ground. Shortly after the war had ended Jackson killed off several hundred British at New Orlean while taking miniumal casualties himself which would make him popular for his upcoming and future Presidental elections. The result of the war would that the British would stop forcing American sailors to join the British Navu but despite this it still continued on a smaller scale.