Changes

===Expansionism===

===Expansionism===

Also at issue was American expansionism. After the [[American War of Independence]], the British continued to occupy several forts along the US-Canadian border, several of which were actually on American soil. In the [[Treaty of Paris]], which ended the Revolutionary War in 1783, the British had agreed to give up control of these stations. Rather than fufil their agreement, however, the British had held the posts and even supplied local [[Native American]] tribes with weapons, and encouraging them to raid American settlements to prevent expansion.<ref>Stagg (1983)</ref>

Also at issue was American expansionism. After the [[American War of Independence]], the British continued to occupy several forts along the US-Canadian border. In the [[Treaty of Paris]], which ended the Revolutionary War in 1783, the British had agreed to give up control of these stations. Rather than fufil their agreement, however, the British had held the posts and even supplied local [[Native American]] tribes with weapons, and encouraging them to raid American settlements to prevent expansion.<ref>Stagg (1983)</ref>

 

===War Hawks===

===War Hawks===

Several [[Senators]], seeing their countrymen pressed into foreign navies and raided by Indians inspired by foreign powers, cried for war with Britain. Prominent among these so-called [[War Hawks]] was [[Henry Clay]] of [[Kentucky]]. Most of the War Hawks hailed from Western and Southern states, while New England and the now-regional [[Federalist Party]] adamantly opposed war. At the [[Hartford Convention]] in late 1814, New England even threatened secession. Many of the War Hawks also looked at [[Canada]], believing it to be poorly-defended while the British were tied up in the Napoleonic Wars. Some also thought that an American invasion would be greeted by the Canadians as a liberation. Thomas Jefferson in 1812 wrote that "the acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us experience for the attack of Halifax the next, and the final expulsion of England from the American continent." The assumptions of the Americans would be proven wrong soon into the war. On June 18, 1812, after hearing a speech by President Madison, [[Congress]] declared war on Great Britain.

Several [[Senators]], seeing their countrymen pressed into foreign navies and raided by Indians inspired by foreign powers, cried for war with Britain. Prominent among these so-called [[War Hawks]] was [[Henry Clay]] of [[Kentucky]]. Most of the War Hawks hailed from Western and Southern states, while New England and the now-regional [[Federalist Party]] adamantly opposed war. At the [[Hartford Convention]] in late 1814, New England even threatened secession. Many of the War Hawks also looked at [[Canada]], believing it to be poorly-defended while the British were tied up in the Napoleonic Wars. Some also thought that an American invasion would be greeted by the Canadians as a liberation. Thomas Jefferson in 1812 wrote that "the acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us experience for the attack of Halifax the next, and the final expulsion of England from the American continent." The assumptions of the Americans would be proven wrong soon into the war. On June 18, 1812, after hearing a speech by President Madison, [[Congress]] declared war on Great Britain.