The Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814, ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The war was declared due to British actions, including a blockade on neutral countries, impressment of US sailors, and control of US shipping. The treaty ended trade restrictions and impressment and also ended the British claim to the Northwest Territory. It took time for news of the treaty to reach troops and for fighting to end, with the final battle won by Andrew Jackson more than two weeks after peace was declared. Congress ratified the treaty on February 17, 1815.
The Treaty of Ghent, sometimes called the “Treaty of 1812”, is a treaty between the United States and Great Britain. Signed on December 24, 1814, this treaty ended the War of 1812. In the treaty, Great Britain made several concessions which are generally accepted to have contributed to the improvement of the international position of the United States.
The War of 1812 was declared after a request made by US President James Madison on June 1, 1812 to the US Congress. The statement was in response to a series of British actions. War had broken out in Europe and Britain, in an attempt to cut off supplies to its enemies, had imposed a blockade on key neutral countries, including the United States. This meant that US commercial ships were unable to trade with most of Europe for several years, negatively impacting both the US’s ability to obtain revenue and its ability to purchase certain goods.
In addition, Britain eventually began taking control of US shipping and capturing their sailors. The sailors were then forced to serve in the British Army. This practice, known as “stamping,” became an increasingly common way for Britain to replace its fallen soldiers. Eventually, a segment of the US population, called the “War Hawks,” began calling for an end to both lockdowns and impression. President Madison responded by asking Congress for a declaration of war, and shortly thereafter, the declaration was signed.
The Two Years War was long and bloody and included the burning of a number of important American buildings, including the United States Capitol. In 1814 negotiations began between the two countries and subsequently the Treaty of Ghent was drawn up and signed, which officially ended the war. The negotiators met in Ghent, Belgium, where the treaty was signed.
Even though the Treaty of Ghent ended the war, it took a long time for news to reach the troops and for the fighting to actually end. Andrew Jackson, who would later become president of the United States, won the final battle of the war at New Orleans more than two weeks after peace was declared. Congress did not ratify the treaty until February 17, 1815.
The Treaty of Ghent accomplished much more than the end of trade restrictions and impressioning. It also ended the British claim to the Northwest Territory, which eventually became the U.S. states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It also forged a common goal between the United States and Great Britain to end the slave trade.
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