A new nation, in peril

Thirty years after the American Revolution, the young nation faced more questions than answers. What did it mean to be an American? Could a government built on democracy survive? 

It was a small war, fought for obscure reasons along the fledgling republic's frontiers, but its consequences were far-reaching. The conflict helped to shape American identity, yet served not as an end, but as a harbinger for much greater change to come.

Cartoon of King George III and Napoleon dividing up the world with swords, as a pudding
Stories

Thirty years after the American Revolution, the young nation faced more questions than answers. What did it mean to be an American? Could a

Portrait of First Lady Dolley Madison as a young woman in her 30s, surrounded by plush red velvet
People

Whether for, against, or indifferent to the War of 1812, citizens of many nations impacted and were impacted by this conflict.

A photograph of a reinactor firing a musket, with a flash of powder
Places

Many sites in both the U.S. and Canada still preserve today the history of the War of 1812

Historic toys on a table, with children and a teacher in the background
Learn More

Bring the War of 1812 to your classroom and your living room with these educational resources for kids

Last updated: July 2, 2016

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