<P> Since the outbreak of war with Napoleonic France , Britain had enforced a naval blockade to choke off neutral trade to France , which the United States contested as illegal under international law . To man the blockade , Britain impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy . Incidents such as the Chesapeake -- Leopard Affair inflamed anti-British sentiment . In 1811 , the British were in turn outraged by the Little Belt Affair , in which 11 British sailors died . The British supplied Indians who conducted raids on American settlers on the frontier , which hindered American expansion and also provoked resentment . Historians remain divided on whether the desire to annex some or all of British North America contributed to the American decision to go to war . On June 18 , 1812 , President James Madison , after receiving heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress , signed the American declaration of war into law . </P>
<P> Since the outbreak of war with Napoleonic France , Britain had enforced a naval blockade to choke off neutral trade to France , which the United States contested as illegal under international law . To man the blockade , Britain impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy . Incidents such as the Chesapeake -- Leopard Affair inflamed anti-British sentiment . In 1811 , the British were in turn outraged by the Little Belt Affair , in which 11 British sailors died . The British supplied Indians who conducted raids on American settlers on the frontier , which hindered American expansion and also provoked resentment . Historians remain divided on whether the desire to annex some or all of British North America contributed to the American decision to go to war . On June 18 , 1812 , President James Madison , after receiving heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress , signed the American declaration of war into law . </P>
who was the us president that declared war on britain in 1812
who was the us president that declared war on britain in 1812
President James Madison
President James Madison