What sparked the War of 1812?

The War of 1812 was primarily sparked by British interference with American shipping and trade. In the years leading up to the war, the British navy imposed restrictive trade practices that affected American merchants. This included impressment, where British forces would board American ships and forcibly recruit American sailors into the British navy, which was a significant affront to American sovereignty and dignity. Additionally, the British were blocking American trade with France, which had its own conflicts with Britain, creating a tense atmosphere that pushed the United States closer to war.

While land disputes and ambitions regarding Canada were factors in the broader context of U.S. expansionism and territorial interests, they were not the immediate catalyst for the conflict. Similarly, expansion into Native American territories was a concern, particularly as it related to British support for Native American resistance against American encroachments, but the core trigger that led to the declaration of war was fundamentally related to the disruptions in trade and the maritime issues that frustrated American interests. Thus, the emphasis on British interference with shipping and trade highlights the direct causes leading to the outbreak of hostilities in 1812.