Main Content

War Experience

American forces failed to conquer Canada, but they won key naval battles on Lake Erie and the Atlantic, as well as defensive battles against British invasions of the United States.

Invading Canada

A series of American invasions of Canada led to the collapse of a Native American coalition, but not to the conquest of a British colony.

Col. Johnsons mounted men charging a party of British artillerists and Indians, at the battle fought near Moravian Town October 2nd 1813

Fighting Battles

Col. Johnsons mounted men charging a party of British artillerists and Indians, at the battle fought near Moravian Town October 2nd 1813

Engraving by Ralf Rawdon
Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection,
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
New York State Militia Coat

New York State Militia Coat

New York State Militia Coat

CWM 19780515-022

Naval Triumphs

Repeated victories over the Royal Navy created a proud American naval tradition.

Engagement between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and H.M.S. Guerriere

USS Constitution

Engagement between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and H.M.S. Guerriere

Painted by Carlton Chapman in 1895
Courtesy of the New-York Historical Society, New York, New York
A Symbol of Victory

A Symbol of Victory

A Symbol of Victory Wood Carving

United States Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland
Battle of Lake Erie

Battle of Lake Erie

Medallion

Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals 
CWM 19760209-002

America Besieged

Americans experienced the war at home as a country and people under British blockade and attack.

A Piece of the White House

A Piece of the White House

A Piece of the White House

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
A View of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, by the British Fleet … on the Morning of the 13th Sept. 1814

The Bombardment of Fort McHenry

A View of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, by the British Fleet … on the Morning of the 13th Sept. 1814

Print by John Bower, 1814
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library, Providence, Rhode Island

American Victory

American forces won the last battle of the War of 1812 at New Orleans, Louisiana, in January 1815.

Battle of New Orleans

Final Victory

Battle of New Orleans

Painted by Jean-Hyacinthe Laclotte in 1815
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana
Baker Rifle, Pattern 1805

Baker Rifle, Pattern 1805

Baker Rifle, Pattern 1805

CWM 20010254-003