Getting into War
British policies that supported the war against Napoleon and the defence of Canada contributed to the outbreak of a second war with the United States.
British policies of forcing American sailors to serve in the Royal Navy and attempting to control American overseas trade alienated Americans. Further, many Americans accused Britain of using Native Americans to wage a proxy war against the American frontier. Reacting to what Americans perceived as a long series of British provocations, the United States declared war on 18 June 1812.