Before the war of 1812, The United States attempted to change the policies of the European powers by economic means. In 1807, after the British ship Leopard fired on the American frigate Chesapeake, President Thomas Jefferson urged and Congress passed an embargo act that banned all American ships

from foreign trade. However, the embargo failed to change British and French policies, yet it devastated New England shipping. Weaker economic measures were also unsuccessful. They failed in peaceful efforts and they faced an economic depression, as a result of this, some Americans began to argue for a declaration of war to redeem the national honor. The Congress was elected in 1810 and a group met in November 1811 who was known as the War Hawks and who demanded war against Great Britain. These men were all Democratic-Republicans and mostly from the West and South. These leaders were John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, Henry Clay of Kentucky, and Felix Grundy of Tennessee. They argued that American ho

Some common words found in the essay are:
Secretary Treasury's, Identity Historians, John Calhoun, British French, Calhoun' American, Henry Clay's, Thomas Jefferson, Grundy Tennessee, Federalist Party, War Hawks, national honor, endorses war, isn't willing, john calhoun, henry clay, war 1812,
Approximate Word count = 555
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)