Battle of New Orleans
After the 1793 Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolutionary War, the British were still present on the American continent.  They were trading with the Indians and at times were inciting them against the Americans. The British were blockading American ships, capturing  American seamen and forcing them into the Royal Navy to fight against Napoleon. On June 18, 1812, President Madison signed the formal declaration of war against Britain. The fighting began in Canada in an attempt to cut off the British supply lines. At that same time, the British were fighting Napoleon but when that war ended these skilled troops were sent to Canada. The Americans did not have a standing army as such and was still composed of individual militias, men who signed up for short periods of time.  By 1813, the British had won nearly every major battle in the war.  In August 24, 1814 The British entered Washington D.C., and burned the Capitol to the ground.