The War of 1812 had absolutely nothing to do with restraint of trade or the impressment of sailors - they were excuses used to sell the venture.

The real reason for the War of 1812 and the War of Independence goes back to the Seven Years War in which the British signed treaties with the Native Americans which restricted westward expansion. The British fully intended to honour those Treaties the Americans were anxious to break them, so Les from Hull is right - War of 1812 was an attempted land grab - in the end what you did come away with you paid France for - Louisiana.