DBQ: The War Hawks

Thesis: The War Hawks brought changes politically, economically, and socially from 1812 to 1815. In 1812, America was forced into war by a Congressional group called the “War Hawks.” The War Hawks, led by Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, were supportive of war with Great Britain. The War Hawks were upset about what the war did for their economy and they did not like the Indians because they were allies of Britain. As a result of this group, the War of 1812 began.

In Document F, the cartoon shows Britain taking goods from America while America is trying to put a stop to it. This political cartoon, created by Alexander Anderson, addresses the displeasure with Jefferson’s Embargo Act (1807). As shown in the cartoon, a smuggler is being bitten by an American snapping turtle named “Ograbme.” The turtle’s name is a play on words of the word embargo. In Document M, it states that people were meeting for the Hartford Convention to come up with amendments. The amendments demanded direct taxes, no new Union States, no embargo lasting more than sixty days, that Congress has no power to declare a war, and that a president can serve only one term. The Hartford Convention brought changes politically including the eventual end of the Federalist Party.
Americans think this because as a result, their wealth will be exhausted and their “best blood will be shed in its reduction.” The document states that the only economical benefit to annex Canada would be that “it would furnish offices to a set of hungry villains.” In Document J, it states that Great Britain has been doing America wrong by tearing them out of their homes. In the document it says that if Britain were being treated that way, they would have killed us (Americans). In the document, it says that the United States must act against these wrongs done by the