The significance of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 is that it marked the official end of the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. Signed on December 24, 1814, the treaty essentially restored the status quo ante bellum, meaning that territorial boundaries prior to the war remained unchanged. While it did not address the primary causes of the war, such as impressment of American sailors and trade restrictions, the treaty set the stage for improved relations between the two nations in the subsequent years and allowed both countries to focus on other international challenges.