Final answer:
The War of 1812 was partly caused by the British practice of impressment, which forced American sailors into the British navy. Despite President Madison's reluctance for war, diplomatic solutions failed, leading to the War of 1812, which ended with the Treaty of Ghent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The War of 1812 was caused, in part, by efforts to stop the forced service of American seamen in the British navy, a practice known as impressment. This, along with issues such as British support for Native Americans against U.S. expansion and unresolved frictions left after Jay's Treaty, escalated tensions.
Although President James Madison was personally against the war, his administration could not find a peaceful solution, leading to the United States declaring war on Great Britain in 1812. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Ghent and was marked by significant events like the burning of Washington, D.C. and the Battle of New Orleans, giving a surge of national pride and a stronger sense of American identity.