1792-1814

France and Britain at war.

1803-1812

British captains impress more than ten thousand American sailors to serve on British ships.

1806

British goods excluded from "fortress Europe" by Napoleon. The British respond with a blockade, catching American ships in the middle.

1807

June - Three Americans are killed and eighteen wounded when the USS Chesapeake refuses to be boarded and is fired upon by the British Leopard.
December - Thomas Jefferson's attempt at "peaceful coercion", the Embargo Act, leads to an economic disaster for American merchants.

1809

March 4 - James Madison is inaugurated President.

1810

War Hawks Clay, Calhoun and others are elected to Congress.

1811

November 4 - War Congress convenes.
November 7 - Harrison's army is attacked by the Prophet, Tecumseh's brother, at the Battle of Tippecanoe.

1812

Madison is re-elected.
U.S. attempts three invasions of Canada, all unsuccessful.
British Guerriere loses to USS Constitution.
More British ships captured or burned by privateers.

April - U.S. burn Toronto and take control of the Great Lakes at the Battle of York (Toronto).
June 18 - President Madison, pressured by War Hawks, asks Congress for declaration of war. With all Federalists opposing it, Congress declares "Mr. Madison's War."
June-August - Baltimore riots.
July 1 - United States doubles customs duties.
July 17 - Mackinac captured by British.
August 15 - Massacre at Fort Dearborn.
August 16 - British capture Detroit.
September - British naval attack is repulsed by Captain Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie.
October - Northwestern Indians are weakened and Tecumseh is killed in a U.S. victory at the Battle of Thames.
October 13 - Battle of Queenston's Heights.
November - South Carolina and Georgia blockaded by British.
November 23 - American forces withdraw from eastern Canada.
November 27 - American forces attack Fort Erie.
December 26 - Chesapeake and Delaware Bays blockaded by British.

1813

January 22 - Battle of Frenchtown.
January 23 - Raisin River Massacre.
April 15 - American forces occupy portions of Western Florida.
April 27 - Battle of York.
May 26 - British blockade extended to additional southern and mid Atlantic states.
May 27 - Battle of Fort George.
May 29 - Battle of Sacket's Harbor.
June 5 - Battle of Stoney Creek.
June 22 - Battle of Norfolk.
June 24 - Battle of Beaver Dams.
June 26 - British attack Hampton.
July 27 - Battle of Burnt Corn.
August 2 - Battle of Fort Stephenson.
August 30 - Battle of Fort Mims.
September 10 - Battle of Lake Erie.
October 5 - Battle of the Thames.
October 16-19 - Battle of Leipzig.
October 26 - Battle of Chateaugay.
November 3 - Battle of Tallushatchee.
November 4 - England offers direct peace negotiations to the United States.
November 9 - Battle of Talladega.
November 11 - Battle of Chrysler's Farm.
November 16 - British blockade extended to all southern and mid Atlantic states.
December 10 - American forces withdraw from Fort George and burn Newark.
December 17 - Embargo adopted by the United States.
December 18 - Fort Niagara captured by the British.
British forces destroy Lewiston and neighboring towns.

1814

British undertake a three-part invasion of the United States at Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain and the mouth of the Mississippi River. British troops are repulsed at Baltimore harbor after capturing Washington and burning the Capitol buildings.

January 22 - Battle of Emuckfau.
January 24 - Battle of Enotachopco Creek.
March - British-French war ends with British victory. Britain can now concentrate on the war with the United States.
March 27-28 - The Creek Indians are defeated by Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
April 11 - Napoleon abdicates the throne of France.
April 14 - Embargo and Non Importation Law repealed by United States.
April 25 - British blockade extended to New England.
July-September - Eastern Maine occupied by British forces.
July 3 - Americans capture Fort Erie.
July 5 - Battle of Chippewa.
July 25 - Battle of Lundy's Lane.
August - American public credit collapses. Banks suspend specie payments.
August 8 - Peace negotiations begin in Ghent with the British outlining initial peace terms.
August 9 - The United States and Creek Indians sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson.
August 14 - British forces occupy Pensacola.
August 15 - Battle of Fort Erie.
August 24 - Battle of Bladensburg.
August 24-25 - Washington, DC burned by British forces.
August 28 - Nantucket declares neutrality.
September 11 - Battle of Lake Champlain. American victory over a larger British force at the Battle of Plattsburgh secures the U.S. northern border.
September 12 - Battle of Mobile Bay. Battle of North Point.
September 13-14 - Battle of Baltimore. The Star Spangled Banner is written by Francis Scott Key.
September 17 - American forces sortie from Fort Erie.
September 26 - General Armstrong captured by British.
October 21 - Peace on basis of uti possidetis.
November 5 - Fort Erie evacuated by American forces.
November 7 - American forces occupy Pensacola.
November 27 - The British drop the uti possidetis.
December 14 - Battle of Lake Borgne.
December 15-Januray 5 - A group of federalists meet at the Hartford Convention to discuss secession and propose seven amendments to protect the influence of the northeastern states.
December 15-February 27 - Additional internal taxes enacted by the United States.
December 23-January 1 - Preliminary battles at New Orleans.
December 24 - British and American diplomats sign the Treaty of Ghent agreeing on status quo ante bellum.
December 28 - Conscription proposal rejected in United States.

1815

January 8 - Andrew Jackson defeats the British at the Battle of New Orleans. Seven hundred British are killed and fourteen hundred wounded as opposed to eight Americans killed and thirteen wounded, all after the war was officially over.
February 4 - Second Enemy Trade Law enacted by the United States.
February 11 - Treaty of Ghent reached the United States.
February 16 - Treaty of Ghent is approved by the U.S. Senate and President Madison.
February 17 - War of 1812 ends as the United States and Britain exchange ratifications.