The War of 1812 pitted the United States and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom, its dependent colonies in North America, indigenous allies, and Spain. The conflict officially commenced on June 18, 1812, when the United States declared war on the United Kingdom, and it concluded on December 24, 1814, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. Although the treaty was ratified by the British government in December 1814, it took almost two more months for the United States government to ratify it on February 17, 1815, before peace came into effect. The core of the war revolved around the US national honor, intertwined with economic and trade issues among the US, the UK, and France. Tensions escalated, leading to the Franco-American Quasi-War and, ultimately, the Anglo-American War of 1812. The Royal Navy's practice of stopping and seizing American ships on the open sea, and impressing sailors as British subjects, even those with American citizenship certificates, were among the primary reasons behind the War of 1812. Furthermore, the 1811 Little Belt incident further exacerbated British resentment.