<human>:  I need help understanding the War of 181
<bot>: The War of 1812 was a conflict fought between the United States and its allies and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and its allies. It is also sometimes referred to as the Second American War of Independence, as it was largely a part of the broader conflict of the Napoleonic Wars at the time. The War of 1812 was an important conflict, as it ended in a stalemate, with neither side claiming a definite victory. It also helped to solidify American national identity and secure whaling and frontier rights. Major causes of the war included competing claims to the land in the American Midwest and Canada, the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy, and the preventative war strategy of the United States. Major battles of the war include the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Lake Erie. The end of the war was marked by the Treaty of Ghent, which restored the pre-war borders of both nations and left many of the underlying issues unresolved.