Perhaps I'm being idealistic about the motivations of our early political leaders but I do think that the primary reason behind the war of 1812 were patriotism and honor. The way Madison justified the war, in his war message 1 June 1812, was by highlighting the British aggression on the seas; primarily impressments, British cruisers hovering near ports, blockades and the orders-in-council. The Americans also believed the Brits guilty of inciting Indian uprisings.
The United States attempted to avoid engaging in this European conflict through peaceable negotiations and economic coercion. But they could not ignore obvious British disrespect for their sovereignty. The British impressed thousands of sailors from American ships and obviously did think American retaliation to be a real threat. …
