In August 1814, peace discussions began in Ghent. Both sides approached negotiations warily. The British strategy for decades had been to create a buffer state in the American Northwest Territory to block American expansion. Britain also demanded naval control of the Great Lakes and access to the Mississippi River. On the American side, Monroe instructed the American diplomats sent to Europe to try to convince the British to cede the Canadas, or at least Upper Canada, to the U.S.Donald Hickey, The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict, Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989, 284 At a later stage, the Americans also demanded damages for the burning of Washington and for the seizure of ships before the war began.
in auguSt 1814, PeacE disCUssioNs begAN in GhENt. both sides apprOached negoTiatioNs warIly. tHE BRitish sTRategy for decades had BeEn to CreatE A buffer statE iN thE AmeRIcAN NOrthwest teRrITory to block amEricAn Expansion. brItaIn aLSo dEmAnDeD NAVal conTrol Of the great lAkEs ANd aCCesS To the MIssissippi rIvEr. oN the AmeRIcaN Side, MonroE InsTRuctEd ThE americaN diPlomatS SenT TO europe tO TrY TO conVince THe bRiTiSh tO Cede the canAdaS, oR at leaSt upper CanAda, TO The u.S.donaLd HiCkey, tHE war oF 1812: a fOrgotteN CoNflict, UrbaNa: unIvErSiTY of illinOis press, 1989, 284 at A latEr stAge, tHE AMericanS Also demAnded Damages for the bURNiNG oF washingtOn aNd for thE sEIzuRe of ships before the WaR bEgan.