AP Advanced Placement U.S. DBQ: "Although President Madison stressed U.S. neutral rights as the principal reason for war, other reasons were probably far more important." Assess validity (War of 1812)

The fact that the American foreign policy of neutral rights was violated is not the underlying principal as to why the War of 1812 had commenced. Several other incidents also contributed to the war, far more important than impressment. A major cause that found support among the settlers of the West is the fact that the British were supplying and aiding the Indians on the frontier. This cause was found to be true especially after the …

…still a young nation, and when it saw other countries expand and prove to be strong, the U.S. also wanted the same condition. America needed to show the world that their country wasn't just a compilation of colonies that recently broke free independent from Britain, but as a country of united states, hence the name. Source: AMSCO United States History - Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination by John J. Newman, John M. Schmalbach