Question

19. What were the competing views of the Federalists and War Hawks on how a war with Britain would affect the American economy?

Answer 1

Although the on-going British interference with American trade hurt their economy, the New England states worried that a war with Britain would curtail all American trade. The War Hawks argued that the British had been working actively against American interests by instigating Indian raids along the American frontier.

Many Federalists opposed the war, since they believed it would disrupt the maritime trade on which many northeastern businesses depended. In a narrow vote, Congress authorized the president to declare war against Britain in June 1812.