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What was the group of congressmen advocating for war with Britain called?
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The group of congressmen advocating for war with Britain prior to the War of 1812 was called the "War Hawks." This faction, primarily young Democratic-Republicans from the South and West, sought to address British maritime practices like impressment and spurred Native American attacks, while also eyeing territorial expansion into Canada and Florida. Prominent figures included Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. Their influence led to the U.S. declaring war against Britain in 1812.
Prior to the War of 1812, Americans were largely divided on whether to grow closer to Britain or grow closer to France. This was complicated by growing tensions and conflict between Britain and France in the Napoleonic period. Federalists, who were often involved in manufacturing and shipping, had significant wealth, and lived in the Northeast and coastal areas, were in favor of greater ties with Britain. This was largely based on economic and trade interests. Democratic-Republicans preferred closer ties to France, who they remembered as a key ally in the American Revolution.
Within the Democratic-Republican party was a more extreme group that called for war with Britain. This group was known as the "War Hawks" for their militaristic views. War Hawks typically came from more rural areas in America's South and along its western frontier. The War Hawks began as a minority within the Democratic-Republican party, but they eventually would...
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grow to have considerable influence under Henry Clay.
War Hawks had a few motivations behind calling for war with Britain. They, along with many other Americans, were upset by the British policy of capturing American ships, as well as the impressment of American sailors. British ships would stop American ships heading to Europe, capture the goods (especially if they were of a military nature), and oftentimes take sailors from the ships for service in the British navy.
Other factors also encouraged the War Hawks to call for war. This included the fact that the British spurred Native American attacks against American frontier settlers in the Northwest. Additionally, many War Hawks had goals of territorial expansion. They believed that war with Britain could lead to territorial gains in Florida and Canada.
As the War Hawks gained influence, their anti-British sentiment spread across the country. It was the views of the War Hawks that pushed America closer to war with Britain. In 1812, the United States would issue a declaration of war against Britain under the leadership of President Madison. The conflict would result in no real exchange of territory and many defeats for the United States, but it did prove that the United States was strong enough to defend itself. This would provide a newfound confidence for the young nation, which would lead into the Era of Good Feelings.
This question is referring to the years before the War of 1812. The congressmen who wanted war with Britain were known as "war hawks." Most were relatively young, as opposed to their older colleagues who remembered the Revolutionary War, and most were from the South and especially the West. Many Western congressmen were eager to invade British Canada to seize British lands, and, at the very least, to destroy perceived British influence among Indian peoples around the Great Lakes. These men were especially outraged by British offenses to American honor, especially the practice of impressment, which indicated that the British Navy had no respect for the United States. The most famous of these so-called "war hawks," who mainly identified with the Republican Party, were Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.
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