As the War of 1812 with Great Britain approached during the
Republican administration of James Madison, the War Hawks saw
silver linings everywhere. "Republicans even came to see the war as
a necessary regenerative act—as a means of purging Americans of
their pecuniary greed and their seemingly insatiable love of
commerce and money-making," historian Gordon S. Wood writes
in Empire of Liberty. "They hoped that war with
England might refresh the national character, lessen the
overweening selfishness of people, and revitalize republicanism."
The money cost of war was dismissed as insignificant compared to
national honor and sovereignty. Indeed, the war was called the
"Second War of Independence." Wood quotes the newspaper editors of
the Richmond Enquirer: "Forget self and think of
America."
