The major cause of the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain was a culmination of maritime issues and territorial disputes. The British practice of impressment, where American sailors were forcibly recruited into the Royal Navy, enraged the U.S. populace. Additionally, British restrictions on American trade and their support for Native American resistance against American expansion were significant provocations. Nationalists in the U.S. sought to assert American sovereignty and defend national honor, leading to calls for war. The conflict ultimately reflected broader tensions regarding nationalism, trade rights, and territorial ambitions, influencing U.S. identity and foreign policy in subsequent years.