The War of 1812 was a war between the United States and Great Britain, which lasted from 1812 to 1815. Despite some early American successes, such as victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, the war was generally inconclusive and ended in a draw. In 1814, both sides agreed to a peace treaty called the Treaty of Ghent, which restored relations between the two countries to the way they were before the war. One of the long-term effects of the war was that it strengthened the feeling of national unity in the United States and led to further territorial expansion in the West.