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Which of the following was not a reason that the war hawks pushed for a war with great britain?

a. the british were encouraging native americans to attack the united states.
b. the british and the french had been interfering with american trade. the british had invaded the oregon territory.
c. the british had been kidnapping american soldiers and forcing them to serve on british ships.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The primary reasons the war hawks pushed for war against Great Britain were British naval impressment, interference with trade, and support for Native American resistance against U.S. expansion. The false reason given is that the British invaded the Oregon Territory, which was not a factor in the lead-up to the War of 1812.

Step-by-step explanation:

The period leading up to the War of 1812 was marked by various tensions between the United States and Great Britain. The war hawks, who were vehement proponents for engaging in war, had several reasons for their stance. Serious grievances included British naval impressment of American sailors, interference with American trade due to the ongoing Napoleonic Wars, and the British support of Native American resistance to U.S. expansion.

One of the incorrect reasons listed that did not motivate the war hawks to push for war is that the British had invaded the Oregon Territory. During the lead-up to the War of 1812, Oregon was not at the center of conflict between Britain and the United States. The primary issues were rooted in maritime rights and frontier conflicts.

Impressment was a particularly egregious practice that saw American sailors forced into service on British ships, often to fill the voids left by the British navy's heavy involvement in the conflict against Napoleon. This, coupled with the British arming Native American tribes to resist American expansion, struck at the heart of American sovereignty and fueled the call to arms. Additionally, the failure of the British to abandon their posts in the Northwest Territory, as required by Jay's Treaty, contributed to the fervor for war.

The war hawks, led by figures like Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, were incensed by what they perceived as British violations of American rights and honor. The decision to go to war, while controversial and met with opposition primarily from Federalists, was ultimately passed by Congress.

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