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===The myth of the War Hawks===

===The myth of the War Hawks===

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 Speaker of the House [[Henry Clay]] of Kentucky and Chairman of the House foreign Relations Committee [[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. 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" />  

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===