War of 1812 DBQ The War of 1812 is one of the forgotten wars of the United States. The war lasted for over two years, and ended in stalemate. It did however, once and for all confirm American Independence. The offensive actions of the United States failed to capture Canada. On the other hand, the British army was successfully stopped when it attempted to capture Baltimore and New Orleans. There were a number of American naval victories in which American vessels proved themselves superior to similarly sized British vessels. Instructions: Read Documents 1-6 to answer questions #1-10 as well as the Essay Question. Essay Question: Explain the causes and consequences of the War of 1812, why is it often known as the Second War of Independence.