The Battle of Horseshoe Bend was a pivotal conflict during the Creek War, which took place primarily between the United States and the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation. Tensions had escalated due to the encroachment of settlers into Creek territories, leading to increasing hostilities. General Andrew Jackson, commanding U.S. forces, aimed to quell the resistance posed by the Creeks. The battle commenced on March 27, 1814, as Jackson's troops triangulated their position against a well-entrenched Creek force led by Chief Menawa on a significant bend of the Tallapoosa River in present-day Alabama.

Jackson's forces numbered around 3,000 men, which included a mix of regulars, state militia, and local Creek allies. The battle itself was characterized by intense combat, with Jackson employing a siege strategy that cut the Creek from retreating and a direct assault that targeted their defenses. The U.S. troops managed to break through the Creek fortifications, leading to a decisive defeat for the Creek warriors. The battle resulted in significant casualties for the Creek, with estimates of over 800 killed, while U.S. losses were considerably lower. This victory forced the remaining Creek factions to the negotiating table.

The aftermath of the battle saw General Jackson consolidate his reputation as a military leader, significantly influencing his future political career, including his subsequent election as the seventh President of the United States. The Treaty of Fort Jackson, signed later that year, resulted in the Creek Nation ceding about 21 million acres of land to the United States, dramatically reshaping the territorial landscape of the southeastern United States and accelerating the westward expansion of American settlers.