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From Isolationism to Intervention Essay

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Throughout history, larger powers have bullied smaller, younger, and weaker states to test their resolve. For example, Sparta picked on Athens in ancient Greece, and Russia tested President Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. This was the same case in America in 1812. England picked on America by taking her ships, impressing American sailors into the English army, and giving guns to the Indians. These actions blocked American citizens from enriching and expanding the young nation. In Washington’s farewell address, he tried to persuade future presidents to keep the United States in isolationism, defined as “ a policy of avoiding political or military agreements with other countries” (Hart 163). President Madison was justified in …show more content…

Finally, “He [President Madison] offered France and Britain a deal: If you agree to stop attacking American ships, the United States will stop trading with your enemy. Napoleon promptly agreed to Madison’s deal. At the same time, he gave his navy secret orders to continue seizing American ships” (Hart 168). With these envoys sent and deals attempted, all unsuccessful, it would have been unwise to continue on a same path that leads to nowhere. Therefore, Madison made the logical decision to change America’s tactics by declaring war on England in 1812.
Madison was faced with many ongoing problems such as the seizure and impressment of sailors, but also new dilemmas such as England giving the Indians guns. Madison’s decision to declare war on England was justified because it had the potential to fix all his problems at once. In the Battle of Tippecanoe against the Indians, “Harrison’s men found British guns on the battlefield”(Hart 169). Also, “England impressed more than one thousand Americans each year” (“Jefferson’s Embargo”). War would stop the Indians because British wouldn’t give them guns and would stop England from impressing Americans. These different attacks on the United States gave Madison the rationale to declare war. Furthermore, this war would also prove to have boosted the American pride.
Many people disagree that Madison was justified in declaring the War of 1812.

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