American War of 1812

Names

The War of 1812 has been referred to by different names, often reflecting national memory as much as contemporary usage. In Britain, the war is sometimes referred to as "The American War of 1812" in order to distinguish it from the Napoleonic Wars, which were occurring at the same time. British accounts have often treated the conflict as a secondary theatre of the wider struggle against Napoleon, while Canadian and American memory have given it greater national significance.