The War of 1812 Begins

On this day in 1812, President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, the first such action in American history.  And while no territory changed hands has a result of the conflict, it did inspire the lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and and usher in the so-called "Era of Good Feelings" in American political history.

To learn more about the War of 1812 and the Star Spangled Banner, try the following resources:

• A Guide to the War of 1812 (Library of Congress)
• A Sailor's Life for Me! (USS Constitution Museum)
• Star-Spangled Banner & the War of 1812 (Smithsonian)
• The War of 1812 (Archives of Ontario)
• The War of 1812 (History Animated)
• The War of 1812 (PBS)
• The War of 1812: 200 Years Later (Smithsonian Magazine)
• The War of 1812: Still Seeking a Little Respect (Washington Post)
• The Whitewashed War (Foreign Policy)
• Treaty of Ghent (Library of Congress)
• War of 1812 in History and Memory (C-SPAN)