Author: John Randolph

Purpose: Encourage not to go to war with Canada, but instead, capture places like Bermuda.

John Randolph supported war, as shown in the quote, "For purposes of maritime safety, the Barren rocks of Bermuda were worth more to us than all the deserts [of Canada]..."

His main argument was that if the U.S wanted to protect its trade, it needed to take places like Bermuda, not Canada

Author: John Randolph

Author's Purpose: John Randolph’s purpose was to oppose the war. His argument was that the war was being pushed because of greed for Canadian land, not to protect maritime rights. He warned that the true motive of people who supported war was to gain power, not to defend the nation.

Text Evidence: "Agrarian cupidity [greed], not maritime right, urges the war."

Summary of Main Arguments: John Randolph argues against the war by saying it is not about protecting mariyime rights, but about greed for Canadian land. He believes northern politicians want more power and influence. He also argues that importsnt targets at sea are being ignored, proving the war is unnecessary.

"Thousands of American citizens... have been torn from their country... dragged on board ships of war of a foreign nation... to risk their lives in the battles of their oppressors."

Opposed (Against War) Evidence:

"We behold on the side of Great Britain a state of war against the United States, and on the side of the United States a state of peace toward Great Britain."

Summary of main arguments For War:

James Madison argues that war with Great Britain was necessary because Britain violated American sovereignty by impressing sailors, restricting trade, and harassing U.S. waters. He also argues that Britain encouraged Native American attacks, showing that Britain was already acting like an enemy despite America's efforts to remain at peace.

"On land, robbers, seizures, imprisonments, by French authority; at sea, pillage, sinking, burning, under French orders...Are they unfelt because they are French?"

In summary, the authors were trying to prove how war with Britain was unnecessary. They argued that a war on land wouldn't help the tragedies they were facing at sea. They also took notice that France was doing almost the same things as the British and America wasn't fighting them.

Summary of main arguments-

-France is doing equally bad stuff, or even worse stuff, so why are we ignoring them?

-What are the US gaining from this war?

-War may further hurt trade.

-Taking Canada is not enough to cancel out other losses throughout the countries.

John Randolph

John Randolph stated in his letter that going to war with Canada wasn't ideal and dealing with Britain wasn't worth it. He states, "For purposes of maritime safety, the barren rocks of Bermuda are worth more to us than all the deserts of Canada." Many Americans at the time had a large interest in gaining land from Canada, but he states that the greed for more land is foolish and unnecessary. He believed the capture of Canada was just land lust and not for the maritime rights. Furthermore, he states that Bermuda would be more useful for maritime rights, emphasizing how useless this interaction would be.

Author/s: 34 Federalist Congressmen

Author's Purpose: Oppose war against Great Britain

Text Evidence:

- "How are our mariners benefited by a war which exposes those who are free, without promising release to those who are impressed?"

- "What are the United States to gain by this war?"

- " Will the gratification of some privateersmen compensate the nation for that seep of our legitimate commerce by the extended marine of our enemy which this desperate act invites?"

Summary: The Federalists believe that going to war doesn't benefit American trade or protect their sailors. They also think fighting on land wouldn't fix the problems at sea, and that the war would harm American trade even more.

Against war, Evidence "The side of the United States a state of  peace toward Great Britain."

Summary of the main argument,

James Madison believes that war with Britain was necessary, because they were blocking U.S trade by attacking our ships, and they were making natives attack U.S citizens.

Author: John Randolph

Purpose: He strongly opposed attacking Canada and accused the government of going to war with England just to do so and to install Northern Influence within the U.S. He said that if the U.S was really trying to protect its trade it should have captured areas such as Bermuda rather than Canada.

Evidence for war: "For purposes of maritime safety, the barren rocks of Bermuda were worth more than all the deserts[ of Canada]"

Evidence against war: "It is to acquire prepondering Northern Influence that you are to launch into war"

In summary of all the points made in the excerpt, the 34 congressmen argued and doubted that the war would actually help American trade or protect sailors. They explained how Canada wouldn't be able to compensate the other states for the damages done. And they mentioned how they don't understand going to war with England because of wrongdoings, even though France is doing similar things. Overall, they really didn't believe that this war would benefit America.

James Madison States," We behold on  the side of Great Britain a state of war against the United States, and on the side of the United States a state of  peace toward Great Britain. " The United States continues to hold peace despite ruthless attacks from Great Britain to avoid greater conflict, but they must stand up for themselves to prevent the harm of their own citizens.

The 34 congressmen who signed this document were questioning how war could benefit the United States. They thought that fighting a war on land wouldn't protect their trade interests which were in the sea. They also thought that if they went to war with England, they should also go to war with France since France also attacked them.

Author: John Randolph

Purpose: argue that people wanted war for land in Canada, but they should focus on places like Bermuda instead, and not go to war.

Evidence: "Agrarian cupidity, not maritime right, urges the war." "Sir, if you go to war, it will not be for the protection of, or defense of, your maritime rights."

Summary: John Randolph thought that a war with Britain was not a good idea because the reasons wouldn't be for the protection of the country, but instead for economic and geographical greed.

"If honor demands a war with England, what opiate lulls that honor to sleep over the wrongs done us by France?"

"The undersigned cannot refrain from asking, what are the United States to gain by this war?"

Against war, because they are worried about

-Impact on commerce

-Questioning Honor

-Safety of the sailors (mariners)

-Overall consequences.

Author: President James Madison

In this document, James Madison explains how the British are harming our commerce as well as hurting us on land with the help of the Natives. In this Excerpt, the main goal of President James Madison is to wage war to stop these problems. "They hover over and harass our entering and departing commerce… Under pretended blockades… our commerce has been plundered in every sea, the great staples of our country have been cut off from their legitimate markets." Basically, the British have been stopping our ships, hurting the citizens on the ships, and had ties to Natives who had attacked our land.

James Madison's reason for the War of 1812 was the interference of the British in American ships and the taking of American sailors, treating them badly. He stated that the British blockades were detrimental to the trade and economy of America, resulting in the inability of American goods reaching the markets of Britain. Further, he attributed the Native Americans attacking the American settlers to the British, as the British traders and soldiers were in touch with the Native Americans. He pointed out that the British were acting as if they are at war with the Americans, although the Americans had been making every attempt to remain at peace.

Author: John Randolph

Purpose: Encourage not to go to war with Canada, but instead, capture places like Bermuda. John Randolph supported war, as shown in the quote, "For purposes of maritime safety, the Barren rocks of Bermuda were worth more to us than all the deserts [of Canada]..."

His main argument was that if the U.S wanted to protect its trade, it needed to take places like Bermuda, not Canada.

Opposed ( against war) Evidence:"... and on the side of the U.S a state of peace toward Great Britain." This evidence that the U.S doesn't want to go to war and have violence be the solution. Madison is explaining that the U.S has no intention of hurting Britain, but if situations don't improve, they won't have a choice. The U.S wants to stay neutral, and not get involved in the war, but Britain is pulling them into the madness.

Author: John Randolph

Author's Purpose: To tell reasons why war was not necessary, and argue that people only wanted to go to war to take Canada's land. They did not care to expand trade in foreign nations.

Text Evidence: "Sir, if you go to war it will not be for the protection of, or defense of your maritime rights...Canada seems tempting in their sight."

Summary: Randolph argued that the real reason people wanted to go to war was so that they could take land from Canada, not because they wanted to expand trade. He believed that the US should go elsewhere to make their commerce better.

Authors: 34 Federalist Congressmen

Author's Purpose: Question/oppose going to war with Britain

Text Evidence: "How will war upon the land protect commerce upon the ocean?"

"What honor to sleep over the wrongs done us by France."

Summary: The Federalists do not think the war will be beneficial in any way. They are wondering why America is not mad about France, show have had similar problems with the U.S. The Federalists question whether a war with Britain would really help protect the soldiers.

"what are the United States to gain by this war?"

"With full knowledge of the wrongs inflicted by the French, ought the government of this country to aid the French cause by engaging in war against the enemy of France?"

In conclusion: The war on the land doesn't help the issues occurring over the sea and those impressed. France too has attacked American ships and sailors, yet we aid them in their war by attacking their enemy. How does any of this benefit the United States?

"It was our own thirst for territory, our own want of moderation, that had driven these sons of  nature to desperation, of which we felt the effects…"

"How will war upon the land protect commerce upon the ocean?"

The arguments questioning war were logical. It makes complete sense that the Native Americans would attack the U.S. given what the U.S. did to them. It makes no sense that Britain is behind these attacks. Also questioning why we would fight on land when the real concern is what's happening on the sea is valid. How would this help our ships and citizens at sea.

Quotes:

"thousands of American citizens... have been dragged on board ships of war of a foreign nation... to risk their lives in... battles"

"British cruisers... hover over and harass our entering (imports) and departing (exports) commerce...our commerce has been plundered in every sea, the great stapes of our country have been cut off from their legitimate markets, end a destructive blow aimed at our agricultural and maritime interests..."

Summary of main arguments supporting war:

James Madison argued that the United States needed to go to war because Great Britain was treating America like a colony instead of an independent nation. His biggest complaint was impressment, where British ships kidnapped thousands of American sailors and forced them to fight in the British Navy. He also pointed out that British ships were "hovering" near the coast and stealing American cargo, which ruined the economy for both farmers and merchants. To Madison, the British were attacking American people and their way of life, leaving the U.S. with no choice but to fight back to protect its freedom and its trade.

"Thousands of American citizens ... have been torn from their country ... dragged on board ships of war of a foreign nations"

" We behold on side of Great Britain a state of war against the United States"

Summary

Madison argued for war because Britain was stopping American ships and kidnapping American sailors, hurting U.S. trade, and encouraging Native American Attacks. He believed that Britain was already acting like they were already at war even though the U.S was trying to remain peaceful.

Author: John Randolph

Randolph opposed going to war with Britain, and taking land from Canada. This is because he argued that people wanted war to gain the Canadian land, and not for protecting trade. My evidence is: "and Canada seems tempting in their sight...Agrarian cupidity, not maritime rights, urges the war. He believed that if the U.S wanted to protect its trade, it should focus on places like Bermuda, and not Canada.

"Agrarian cupidity, not maritime right, urges the war."

"Canada! Canada! Canada! Not a syllable about Halifax..."

"It is to acquire a preponderating Northern influence that you are to launch into war."

Summary:

The author argues against the war by saying it is driven by greed for land, not by the defense of maritime rights. He also states that the war is supposed to increase Northern political power. But, if maritime security were truly the goal, the focus would be on Halifax or Bermuda, and not Canada."

"We behold on the side of Great Britain a state of war against the United States, and on the side of the United States a state of peace toward Great Britain."

Great Britain has attacked us for example, interfering with American ships and taking of American sailors. James Madison supports the idea of war but doesn't want to cause higher conflict. So he decides to show peace to them while still being able to stand up for themselves and defend the people.

James Madison states that, The British were blocking US trade by attacking their ships and harassing the US imports and exports. He pointed out that the British were acting like they were at war, even when the US was doing everything in their power to remain at peace. This shows that Madison thinks war is necessary.

Author: John Randolph

Randolph opposed the war, arguing that the true motivation behind public support was the desire to acquire land from Canada rather than to defend the nation. He claimed that, “…if you go to war, it will not be for the protection of, or defense… and Canada seems tempting in their sight.” Randolph also believed that if the United States were genuinely concerned with protecting its trade, it should concentrate on strategic locations such as Bermuda instead of targeting Canada.

- "How will war upon the land protect commerce upon the ocean?"

- "Are they unfelt because they are French?... With full knowledge of the wrongs inflicted by the French, ought the government of this country to aid the French cause by engaging in war against the enemy of France?..."

- "Will the gratifcation of some privateersmen compensate the nation for that seep of our legitimate commerce by the  extended marine of our enemy which this desperate act invites?"

Summary: The 34 congressmen argued that another war would damage American commerce far more than it already was and that it wouldn't protect their sailors. The Federalists also believed that war on land didn't benefit or resolve the problems they had at sea.