What did the Treaty of Ghent accomplish?

• A. Ended the War of 1812
• B. Began the War of 1812
• C. Created a national bank
• D. Opened trade with Asia

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a peace treaty ends a conflict. The Treaty of Ghent accomplished exactly that by ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. Signed in 1814 and ratified in 1815, it stopped the fighting and restored prewar boundaries, so neither side gained or lost territory as a result of the treaty itself. It also established a commission to resolve boundary disputes, helping prevent further near-term clashes along the borders. Important issues that helped cause the war, like maritime rights and impressment, were not resolved by the treaty and would be addressed in other ways later, but the immediate effect was clear: peace between the two nations. This is why the treaty is described as ending the war. It did not start the war, did not create a national bank, and did not open trade with Asia.