The Treaty of Ghent ended the war of 1812. (If you have to ask when that war took place, you might want to splash some water on your face—how long have you been studying?)

This war was the American name for a longer series of conflicts centering around Napoleon. You remember him: short guy. Corsican. French emperor. Good with artillery. Wore nifty hats.

So while Napoleon was fighting in Europe, the U.S. saw a good chance to settle some scores with Great Britain. It...didn't go well. At all.

Britain invaded, captured Washington D.C. and even burned the White House to the ground. In fact, the only major military victory the United States won was the Battle of New Orleans, which took place two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed. Yeah, news traveled slower back then.

The Treaty of Ghent was considered a smashing success at the time because it surrendered no territory to Great Britain. Not a bit. After one of the worst beatings one country can take from another, it was considered a victory that nothing was actually lost.