Author Archives: “Caius”

About “Caius”

Mathew Carey (1760-1839) used the pseudonym of “Caius,” a character from King Lear who was loyal but blunt. When Mathew Carey feared New England would secede from the Union, he read everything he could find on the history of civil wars. In that spirit, “Caius” offers a historical perspective for political discussion.

How New Englanders Reacted to the War with Britain (continued)

Governor Strong, and clerics Elijah Parish and John Gardiner were not the only ones to object to war with Britain. They were in touch with public opinion.  By August of 1812, New England was rocked by protests: “Our common interests, … Continue reading

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How New Englanders Reacted to the War of 1812

Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong urged New Englanders to fast.  Touching on his region’s roots in English history he denounced the war “against the nation from which we are descended, and which for many generations has been the bulwark of the … Continue reading

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Who Were “War Hawks” Peter Buell Porter and John C. Calhoun

Peter Buell Porter (1773-1844) was the only War Hawk born in New England, in Salisbury Connecticut.  In 1791 he graduated from Yale, and studied law in Connecticut with Judge Tapping Reeve.   In 1795 he moved to Canandaigua, New York.  Originally … Continue reading

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Who Were the War Hawks from Tennessee?

Flex Grundy and John Sevier Felix Grundy (1777-1840)  came from a frontier family that moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania and then to Kentucky.  Native Americans had killed at least three of his brothers.  His father died when he was young, … Continue reading

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Who Were These War Hawks?

Henry Clay and Richard Mentor Johnson were from Kentucky; Felix Grundy and John Sevier from Tennessee; Peter Buell Porter, from Buffalo, New York and John C. Calhoun from the back woods of South Carolina.[1] Henry Clay (1777-1852) was, in 1812, … Continue reading

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How Tecumseh Responded

Tecumseh, incensed, refused to respect the treaty.  He approached the British in Canada, assuring them he was ready for war.  The British were not.  He recruited more tribes to join his confederacy.  He assured Governor Harrison that he was only … Continue reading

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Who Were the “War Hawks” and Why Did They Want War?

Almost half of the Representatives who had passed Macon’s Bill No. 2 were not reelected in 1810-11. [1] Instead, a new breed of young politicians took their place. Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun were the most prominent.  Their reason … Continue reading

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Was Madison Right? Could War Have Been Avoided?

War with Britain could have been avoided.  In England the winter of 1811-1812 was one of the worst on record.  Crops failed.    Wheat prices soared.  With non-intercourse with Britain in effect, the once lucrative export market to America for manufactured … Continue reading

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To Recap: How Madison Responded to Napoleon’s Offer

After repealing the Embargo, Congress once again passed a non-intercourse act, with a pledge the United States would resume trade with the first nation to repeal its injurious policies toward American commerce.  Jefferson’s successor, James Madison, tried diplomacy, working with … Continue reading

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More on Nineteenth Century Economic Sanctions: Napoleon’s Continental System

By 1806 Napoleon had conquered or formed alliances with every country that mattered on the continent.  Napoleon dominated the land; Britain dominated the sea.  He lacked enough troops to invade Britain.  He was unable to conquer Britain’s formidable Navy. Napoleon … Continue reading

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