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}}The '''War of 1812''' was fought between the United States and Britain and lasted from June 18, 1812 until February 18, 1815. Americans had various grievances against Britain: Suppressing American trade with France, impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and supplying and inciting hostile Indian tribes in the West. The specific grievances counted for less than the feeling that many Americans had that Britain did not respect U.S. sovereignty. It was "a war for honour, like that of the Greeks against Troy," as Virginia [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)| Republican]] John Taylor put it.<ref>Wood, Gordon S. ''Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815'' (Oxford History of the United States Book 4) (p. 313). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. p. 658-659.</ref> For its part, Britain felt that emergency measures were justified by the struggle against [[Napoleon]].

}}The '''War of 1812''' was fought between the United States and Britain and lasted from June 18, 1812 until February 18, 1815. Americans had various grievances against Britain: Suppressing American trade with France, impressing (seizing) sailors with U.S. papers, and supplying and inciting hostile Indian tribes in the West. The specific grievances counted for less than the feeling that many Americans had that Britain did not respect U.S. sovereignty. It was "a war for honour, like that of the Greeks against Troy," as Virginia [[Republicans (Jeffersonian)| Republican]] John Taylor put it.<ref>Wood, Gordon S. ''Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815'' (Oxford History of the United States Book 4) (p. 313). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. p. 658-659.</ref> For its part, Britain felt that emergency measures were justified by the struggle against [[Napoleon]].

In November 1806, Napoleon issued the Berlin Decree to embargo Britain. In January 1807, the British responded with "Orders in Council" that banned the vessels of neutral nations, including the U.S., from trading with France and its allies. To restrict U.S. trade to Britain would restore colonial trade relations. To President [[Thomas Jefferson]], this was tantamount to a denial of U.S. sovereignty. Congress responded by enacting the [[Embargo of 1807]]. The embargo hurt the U.S. economy, especially in New England, and was unpopular. After it collapsed in 1809, President [[James Madison]] tried other forms of economic pressure to overturn the Orders in Council. In July 1811, he told Congress that if there was no diplomatic solution by November, he would call a special session to approve preparations for war. A military buildup was authorized in January 1812. Madison requested war on June 1, which Congress declared on June 18.

In November 1806, Napoleon issued the Berlin Decree to embargo Britain. In January 1807, the British responded with "Orders in Council" that banned the vessels of neutral nations, including the U.S., from trading with France and its allies. To restrict U.S. trade to Britain would restore colonial trade relations. To President [[Thomas Jefferson]], this was tantamount to a denial of U.S. sovereignty. Congress responded by enacting the [[Embargo of 1807]]. The embargo hurt the U.S. economy, especially in New England, and was unpopular. After it collapsed in 1809, President [[James Madison]] tried other forms of economic pressure to overturn the Orders in Council. In July 1811, he told Congress that if there was no diplomatic solution by November, he would call a special session to approve preparations for war. A military buildup was authorized in January 1812. Madison requested war on June 1, which Congress declared on June 18. Critics called it "Mr. Madison's War," while supporters fought under the banner, "Free trade and sailors' rights."<ref>The banner "free trade and sailors' rights" was first hoisted on the USS Essex by Captain David Porter on July 2, 1812. (''Free Trade and Sailors' Rights in the War of 1812'' by Paul A. Gilje</ref>

At the beginning of the war, the U.S. had fewer than 7,000 soldiers and only sixteen naval vessels.<ref name=Woods659>Wood, Gordon S. ''Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815'' (Oxford History of the United States Book 4) (p. 313). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. p. 659.</ref> The British has over 250,000 soldiers and over 600 vessels in active service.<ref name="Woods659" /> The war began with a disastrous U.S. invasion of Ontario led by William Hull. Hull's force surrendered and a British counteroffensive took Detroit. The Battle of the Thames in October 1813 was the turning point of the war. The fighting at sea was characterized by a tight British blockade that shut down most American shipping, together with some dramatic naval battles that added glory to the small U.S. Navy. When the Napoleonic Wars ended, the British could move large forces to North America and go on the offensive. They attacked Washington, New York state, and New Orleans. All these invasions were abject failures. By late 1814, with Napoleon gone, Britain friends with France, and the Indian tribes defeated, the causes for the war had largely vanished. A treaty was agreed to that left the prewar boundaries unchanged.   

At the beginning of the war, the U.S. had fewer than 7,000 soldiers and only sixteen naval vessels.<ref name=Woods659>Wood, Gordon S. ''Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815'' (Oxford History of the United States Book 4) (p. 313). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. p. 659.</ref> The British has over 250,000 soldiers and over 600 vessels in active service.<ref name="Woods659" /> The war began with a disastrous U.S. invasion of Ontario led by William Hull. Hull's force surrendered and a British counteroffensive took Detroit. The Battle of the Thames in October 1813 was the turning point of the war. The fighting at sea was characterized by a tight British blockade that shut down most American shipping, together with some dramatic naval battles that added glory to the small U.S. Navy. When the Napoleonic Wars ended, the British could move large forces to North America and go on the offensive. They attacked Washington, New York state, and New Orleans. All these invasions were abject failures. By late 1814, with Napoleon gone, Britain friends with France, and the Indian tribes defeated, the causes for the war had largely vanished. A treaty was agreed to that left the prewar boundaries unchanged.   

There is a persistent myth that the United States was pushed into war a group of congressman called the War Hawks. This was a group of about a dozen congressmen led by [[Henry Clay]] of Kentucky and [[John C. Calhoun]] of South Carolina. Most were comparatively young and first elected in 1810. This was a year when many congressman first elected in 1788 retired, so there was a generational shift. As the chronology above illustrates, every step in the march toward war was initiated by Madison and the executive branch. In this era, congressional activity focused on responding to proposals made by the executive. There was no opportunity for a minority faction like the War Hawks to initiate policy.

There is a persistent myth that the United States was pushed into war a group of congressman called the War Hawks. This was a group of about a dozen congressmen led by [[Henry Clay]] of Kentucky and [[John C. Calhoun]] of South Carolina. Most were comparatively young and first elected in 1810. This was a year when many congressman first elected in 1788 retired, so there was a generational shift. As the chronology above illustrates, every step in the march toward war was initiated by Madison and the executive branch. In this era, congressional activity focused on responding to proposals made by the executive. There was no opportunity for a minority faction like the War Hawks to initiate policy.

Since the War Hawks came from the West and South, historians who blame the War Hawks for the war have further argued that they were motivated by grievances specific to these two regions. Westerners were supposedly fixated by the prospect of land in Canada, while Southerners eyed Spanish Florida. The slogan of the War Hawks was, "Free trade and sailors' rights." That is to say, neither Canada nor Florida were emphasized in public debate. The idea of a War Hawk faction comes from Federalist congressmen who listened to the fiery anti-British speeches of Clay, Calhoun, and others, and concluded, or hoped, that Republicans were divided. An analysis of private letters does not support the view that the Republican leadership was split into pro-war and pro-peace factions.<ref name="warhawk" />  

Since the War Hawks came from the West and South, historians who blame the War Hawks for the war have further argued that they were motivated by grievances specific to these two regions. Westerners were supposedly fixated by the prospect of land in Canada, while Southerners eyed Spanish Florida. But neither Canada nor Florida were emphasized in public debate, which focused on "free trade and sailors' rights." The idea of a War Hawk faction comes from Federalist congressmen who listened to the fiery anti-British speeches of Clay, Calhoun, and others, and concluded, or hoped, that Republicans were divided. An analysis of private letters does not support the view that the Republican leadership was split into pro-war and pro-peace factions.<ref name="warhawk" />  

===The myth of land hunger===

===The myth of land hunger===