The war of 1812 started on June 18, 1812 when the Americans Declared war on Great Britain.
The Americans were mad because the British "economically blockaded" France.
The Americans also wanted war because Americans were put into Britain's Royal Navy without their opinion.
The Americans disliked how Britain supported the Indian tribes who lived around the Great Lakes.
BRITAIN CONQUERS
Great Britain conquered some of America's major cities during the war, such as Washington D.C. Britain was wanted to burn down some of America's government buildings in return for them destroying some of Britain's important buildings in Canada. The White House was burned down by the British. The president then, James Madison, was not able to move back into the White House until 1817.
Star Spangled Banner
During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" after he saw Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor being bombed by the British. The national anthem was originally called, "The Defense of Fort McHenry."