The War of 1812, fought between the United States and Great Britain, had its historical context rooted in ongoing tensions from the American Revolutionary War, economic distress, and British maritime practices like impressment of American sailors. The U.S. sought to assert its sovereignty while Britain aimed to reaffirm its naval dominance. The war was characterized by significant battles, including the burning of Washington D.C., and concluded with the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. Although it did not result in territorial changes, the war fostered a sense of national identity and pride in America, reinforcing the concept of Manifest Destiny in the years that followed.