WAR HAWKS

                The War Hawks were created from a group of Democratic-Republicans. They consisted of mostly southerners and westerners. The term was coined by a Virginia congressman who was an opponent in entering the war. If he didn't want people to listen to the War Hawks, why did he give them such a great name? War Hawks in general were the people who wanted to solve diplomatic problems with military means. Against popular belief that most of the members were the younger part of congress, it has been proven that they were actually much older. The War Hawks were created to advocate going to war with Britain. They're main reasoning for this was the interference that the Royal British Navy had been causing in American shipping. This was hurting the American economy, and action had to be taken against the British. The War Hawks also called for an invasion of British Canada. This was because they believed that the British were arming Native Americans in order to have them fight settlers on the Western frontier. The War Hawks were never listened to (although they should have been), and America eventually started the War of 1812 by its own means.

            Not much is known about the membership of the War Hawks other than their leader Henry Clay. Another prominent member was John C. Calhoun, who had great hair. The only other known affiliates were Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky, William Lowndes of South Carolina, Langdon Cheves of South Carolina, Felix Grundy of Tennessee, and William W. Bibb of Georgia. Henry Clay was also greatly involved in many other aspects of politics. He was the Speaker of the House and was involved in the Corrupt Bargain with John Quincy Adams. Clay also formulated the American System, which was partly used by the US government. He was also part of a group nicknamed the Immortal Trio, which consisted of Daniel Webster, Calhoun, and Clay. They were some of the main politicians involved in the creation of the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. Clay also ran for president many times, but lost each time. The only time he came close he lost because of his opposition to Manifest Destiny and the Mexican American War. Clay also didn't want to admit Texas into the Union because he feared the slavery issue that it would bring with it. Lastly, President Abraham Lincoln stated later in his life that Henry Clay was his idol, and that he was an ideal politician that inspired Lincoln throughout his life.

            John C Calhoun was also a very prominent War Hawk and politician. Not only did he have great hair, but he was greatly involved in the slavery issue. He defended slavery with his theorizing of minority rights, and he eventually helped the South decide to secede. Also, since he was a War Hawk, he was elected to be Monroe's Secretary of War. During his time as Secretary of War, he modernized the department and reorganized it so that powerful bureaucracies would run the department. Long after his death, the Senators elected both him and Henry Clay as two of the Five Greatest Senators. These War Hawks will live on in eternity.   

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