Women in the War of 1812

The War of 1812 was another conflict between The United States and Great Britain. Lasting until 1815, the war was fought over territory in the newly formed United States as well as trade between the United States and the still existing colonies of England. America was also fighting to end the practice of impressment, or forced recruitment, on American men. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1914, but fighting in the United States continued for several more months while word was traveling to the states.

Women engaged in the war in noncombative roles. Women who decided to stay at home were left to manage the home and land, while women who did decide to follow the men to battle functioned as cooks, nurses, and laundresses. Women functioned as spies for the armies that they supported and were charged with defending the home from enemies.