The War of 1812

Study Questions

1. Was the "Revolution of 1800" really revolutionary, as Jefferson claimed? How, if at all, did Jefferson's policies differ from those of his Federalist predecessors?
2. Discuss U.S./Indian relations before, during, and after the War of 1812. What issues from the colonial period continued to effect U.S./Indian affairs?
3. What factors encouraged westward migration in the years after the War of 1812? How did settlement patterns in the Northwest differ from those in the Southwest?
4. Was the United States able to avoid the "entangling alliances" against which George Washington warned in his Farewell Address? How important was foreign policy to post-1800 presidential administrations?

Documents

After reading the documents linked below, discuss the following questions:

1. What were the various arguments in support of the war? Read between the lines to identify common concerns.
2. How do the population and congressional votes tables support the idea that sectional interests were important in the decision to declare war in 1812? How do you assess the importance of western influence on the decision? What evidence supports your conclusion?
3. Define the term national honor as used in the documents. To what extent did pride account for the decision for war in 1812? How was national pride related to U.S. foreign policy between 1801 and 1812?
4. What do the documents reveal about Republican political ideology? How important were party interests in determining the views and actions of figures such as Madison and Clay?

John C. Calhoun Insists on Free Trade
Henry Clay Endorses War, 1811
Congressional Voting on the Declaration of War, 1812
A Federalist Voices Dissent, 1812
The Kentucky Legislature Calls for Action, 1811
President Madison States the Case for War, 1812
A Southerner Urges Continental Expansion
U.S. Population by Region, 1790-1870

Key Terms

Internet Resources

• The Road to Washington
• Multieducator's History of the War of 1812

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