US Declaration of War against the United Kingdom

TWELFTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES;

At the First Session,

Begun and held at the city of Washington, in the territory of Columbia, on Monday the fourth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

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AN ACT declaring war between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof and the United States of America and their territories.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That war be, and the same is hereby declared to exist between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of America and their territories; and that the President of the United States is hereby authorized to use the whole land and naval power of the United States ... to carry the same into effect; And to issue to private armed vessels of the United States commissions or letters of marque and General Reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper and under the seal of the United States, against the vessels, goods and effects of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the subjects thereof.

 

June 18, 1812
⁠Approved
⁠James Madison

, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

W.H. Crawford, President of the Senate, pro tempore.