The main causes of the War of 1812 were multifaceted and involved a combination of maritime issues, territorial expansion, and political tensions:
- Trade restrictions imposed by Britain during its war with France, which limited American trade and were seen as illegal by the US.
- The impressment of American sailors into the British Royal Navy, where Britain claimed these sailors were deserters.
- British military support for Native American tribes who resisted American expansion into the Northwest Territory.
- A desire by the US to possibly annex Canadian territory.
- The need to uphold national honor in the face of British insults, such as the Chesapeake-Leopard affair.
Additionally, there were long-standing tensions over territorial expansion in North America, with Britain's support for Tecumseh's confederacy resisting US settlement efforts. The British enforcement of trade policies like the Rule of 1756 and Orders-in-Council further exacerbated tensions. American expansionism and the War Hawks' push for war also played a crucial role. The war was partly fueled by the young US's aspiration to assert sovereignty and respond to what many Americans saw as violations of their rights at sea and on the frontier. These causes illustrate a mix of economic, political, and territorial disputes that culminated in the US declaring war on Britain in June 1812.
