The American Revolution gave the United States its independence, but the War of 1812 gave it status among the nations and established permanent peace with Great Britain. Alabama had a significant role during the War of 1812. The Creek Indian War and Andrew Jackson’s victory at Horseshoe Bend changed the boundaries of the United States in the South and the Southwest. The battles at Fort Mims and Fort Bowyer marked the beginning and end of the War of 1812 in Alabama. The first battle at Fort Bowyer in September 1814 near present-day Fort Morgan resulted in a British defeat and forced them to abandon their strategy to capture Mobile and use it as a base to capture New Orleans. They were forced to attack New Orleans from the sea. After the British defeat in New Orleans in January 1815, the British fleet attacked Fort Bowyer a second time in February 1815 and was successful. However, the Treaty of Ghent had been signed, so the battle was for naught.