Before beginning, define the following word: War Hawks
Step 2 - Dilemma Description: President James Madison took office in 1809. He tried a new approach to protecting Americans at sea. He offered France and Great Britain a deal: if you agree to cease your attacks on American ships, the United States will stop trading with your enemy.
Napoleon promptly agreed to Madison's offer. At the same time, Napoleon gave his navy secret orders to continue seizing American ships headed for British ports. Madison, who desperately wanted to believe Napoleon's false promise, cut off all trade with Great Britain.
Meanwhile, the British continued seizing ships and impressing American sailors. Madison saw only one way to force Great Britain to respect American rights. He began to think about abandoning George Washington's policy of isolationism and going to war with Great Britain.
New Englanders and Federalists generally opposed going to war. Merchants in New England knew that war would mean a blockade of their ports by the British navy. They preferred to take their chances with the troubles at sea.
Many people in the South and to the west, however, supported going to war. Like all Americans, they resented Great Britain's policy of impressing U.S. sailors. They also accused the British of stirring up trouble among Indians in the states and territories to the northwest.
Trouble with the Indians was growing as settlers moved into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys and pushed Indians off their lands. Two Shawnee Indians—a chief named Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet—tried to fight back by uniting Indians along the Mississippi River into one great Indian nation. On November 7, 1811, Shawnee warriors fought against a militia force led by Indiana governor William Henry Harrison in the Battle of Tippecanoe Creek. Harrison defeated the Indian forces. After the battle, however, Harrison's men discovered that the Indians were armed with British guns.
Americans were outraged. Several young congressmen from the South and West, including Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, were so eager for war with Great Britain that they were nicknamed “War Hawks.” They argued that to make the northwestern frontier safe for settlers, the United States needed to drive the British out of Canada. Once that was done, Canada could be added to the United States.
Losses at sea, national pride, and a desire to make the frontier safe for settlement all contributed to the reasons for war. Still, Madison hesitated. Was the nation strong enough to launch the arrows of war? Or should he hold tightly to the olive branch of peace?
Napoleon promptly agreed to Madison's offer. At the same time, Napoleon gave his navy secret orders to continue seizing American ships headed for British ports. Madison, who desperately wanted to believe Napoleon's false promise, cut off all trade with Great Britain.
Meanwhile, the British continued seizing ships and impressing American sailors. Madison saw only one way to force Great Britain to respect American rights. He began to think about abandoning George Washington's policy of isolationism and going to war with Great Britain.
New Englanders and Federalists generally opposed going to war. Merchants in New England knew that war would mean a blockade of their ports by the British navy. They preferred to take their chances with the troubles at sea.
Many people in the South and to the west, however, supported going to war. Like all Americans, they resented Great Britain's policy of impressing U.S. sailors. They also accused the British of stirring up trouble among Indians in the states and territories to the northwest.
Trouble with the Indians was growing as settlers moved into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys and pushed Indians off their lands. Two Shawnee Indians—a chief named Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet—tried to fight back by uniting Indians along the Mississippi River into one great Indian nation. On November 7, 1811, Shawnee warriors fought against a militia force led by Indiana governor William Henry Harrison in the Battle of Tippecanoe Creek. Harrison defeated the Indian forces. After the battle, however, Harrison's men discovered that the Indians were armed with British guns.
Americans were outraged. Several young congressmen from the South and West, including Henry Clay of Kentucky and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, were so eager for war with Great Britain that they were nicknamed “War Hawks.” They argued that to make the northwestern frontier safe for settlers, the United States needed to drive the British out of Canada. Once that was done, Canada could be added to the United States.
Losses at sea, national pride, and a desire to make the frontier safe for settlement all contributed to the reasons for war. Still, Madison hesitated. Was the nation strong enough to launch the arrows of war? Or should he hold tightly to the olive branch of peace?
Step 3 - Directions: As a "cabinet" decide which option fits best by choosing one of the following letters. Then write down the option on a separate sheet of paper and explain why it is the best choice in 30 words or more.
Step 4 - Watch the video. (Interesting video!!)
Step 5 - Using the video and Lesson 12, Section 8 - answer the following questions.
1. What are 2 main causes of the War of 1812?
2. Which 3 groups fought against each other in the War of 1812?
3. Why was the Battle of New Orleans unnecessary?
4. What treaty ended the War of 1812?
5. Who won the War of 1812?
6. What are 3 effects of the War of 1812?
1. What are 2 main causes of the War of 1812?
2. Which 3 groups fought against each other in the War of 1812?
3. Why was the Battle of New Orleans unnecessary?
4. What treaty ended the War of 1812?
5. Who won the War of 1812?
6. What are 3 effects of the War of 1812?