<P> In January 1815, Admiral Cockburn succeeded in blockading the southeastern coast by occupying Camden County, Georgia . The British quickly took Cumberland Island, Fort Point Peter, and Fort St. Tammany in a decisive victory . Under the orders of his commanding officers, Cockburn's forces relocated many refugee slaves, capturing St. Simons Island as well, to do so . During the invasion of the Georgia coast, an estimated 1,485 people chose to relocate in British territories or join the military . In mid-March, several days after being informed of the Treaty of Ghent, British ships finally left the area . </P> <P> By 1814, both sides had either achieved their main war goals or were weary of a costly war that offered little but stalemate . They both sent delegations to a neutral site in Ghent, Flanders (now part of Belgium). The negotiations began in early August and concluded on December 24, when a final agreement was signed; both sides had to ratify it before it could take effect . Meanwhile, both sides planned new invasions . </P> <P> In 1814 the British began blockading the United States, and brought the American economy to near bankruptcy, forcing it to rely on loans for the rest of the war . American foreign trade was reduced to a trickle . The parlous American economy was thrown into chaos with prices soaring and unexpected shortages causing hardship in New England which was considering secession . The Hartford Convention led to widespread fears that the New England states might attempt to leave the Union, which was exaggerated as most New Englanders did not wish to leave the Union and merely wanted an end to a war which was bringing much economic hardship, suggested that the continuation of the war might threaten the union . But also to a lesser extent British interests were hurt in the West Indies and Canada that had depended on that trade . Although American privateers found chances of success much reduced, with most British merchantmen now sailing in convoy, privateering continued to prove troublesome to the British, as shown by high insurance rates . British landowners grew weary of high taxes, and colonial interests and merchants called on the government to reopen trade with the U.S. by ending the war . </P> <P> At last in August 1814, peace discussions began in the neutral city of Ghent . Both sides began negotiations warily . The British diplomats stated their case first, demanding the creation of an Indian barrier state in the American Northwest Territory (the area from Ohio to Wisconsin). It was understood the British would sponsor this Indian state . The British strategy for decades had been to create a buffer state to block American expansion . Britain demanded naval control of the Great Lakes and access to the Mississippi River . The Americans refused to consider a buffer state and the proposal was dropped . Although Article IX of the treaty included provisions to restore to Natives "all possessions, rights and privileges which they may have enjoyed, or been entitled to in 1811", the provisions were unenforceable; the British did not try and the Americans simply broke the treaty . The Americans (at a later stage) demanded damages for the burning of Washington and for the seizure of ships before the war began . </P>

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