<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wikisource has original text related to this article: US Declaration of War against the United Kingdom </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wikisource has original text related to this article: US Declaration of War against the United Kingdom </Td> </Tr> <P> On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent a message to Congress recounting American grievances against Great Britain, though not specifically calling for a declaration of war . After Madison's message, the House of Representatives deliberated for four days behind closed doors before voting 79 to 49 (61%) in favor of the first declaration of war . The Senate concurred in the declaration by a 19 to 13 (59%) vote in favour . The conflict began formally on June 18, 1812, when Madison signed the measure into law and proclaimed it the next day . This was the first time that the United States had declared war on another nation, and the Congressional vote was the closest vote to formally declare war in American history . The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 1991, while not a formal declaration of war, was a closer vote . None of the 39 Federalists in Congress voted in favour of the war; critics of war subsequently referred to it as "Mr. Madison's War ." </P> <P> Earlier in London on May 11, an assassin had killed Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, which resulted in Lord Liverpool coming to power . Liverpool wanted a more practical relationship with the United States . On June 23, he issued a repeal of the Orders in Council, but the United States was unaware of this, as it took three weeks for the news to cross the Atlantic . On June 28, 1812, HMS Colibri was despatched from Halifax under a flag of truce to New York . On July 9, she anchored off Sandy Hook, and three days later sailed on her return with a copy of the declaration of war, in addition to transporting the British ambassador to the United States, Mr. Foster and consul, Colonel Barclay . She arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia eight days later . The news of the declaration took even longer to reach London . </P>

When did the us declare war on britain for the war of 1812