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The War Hawks:
In 1810, the twelfth Congressional elections brought "The War Hawks," a radical coalition of southern and western states, to power. Seventy young politicians between the ages of 28 and 39 were elected to the House of Representatives. One was appointed as Speaker of the House and others to powerful committees including Foreign Relations, Ways and Means, Military Affairs and Naval Affairs. They were a new generation of American politicians who wanted war and land. What their states had in common were sparse forests, depleted soil and a fear of Indians, who, they believed, were receiving British support from Canada. The War Hawks planned to preemptively invade and conquer Canada. |