The war of 1812 - causes - British interfere with American shipping, British kidnap American sailors, Americans believe British are persuading Native Americans to fight settlers, Some members of Congress (War Hawks) want U.S. expansion into Canada. Preparedness for war - United States - 12,000 troops, 16 warships, 4000 sailors, 1800 marines. Britain - 10000 British and Canadian troops, 584 warships, 140000 sailors (worldwide), 31000 marines. Based on the information in the chart, why might congress have been divided about declaring war on Britain? A. members of congress did not believe the American military could compete with the British military. B. some representatives were not convinced that the rumors about the Native American attacks were true. C. southern representatives were less concerned about British interference in American shipping. D. the War Hawks had more supporters n the House of Representatives than in the Senate.

Question

The war of 1812 - causes - British interfere with American shipping, British kidnap American sailors, Americans believe British are persuading Native Americans to fight settlers, Some members of Congress (War Hawks) want U.S. expansion into Canada.  Preparedness for war - United States - 12,000 troops, 16 warships, 4000 sailors, 1800 marines.  Britain - 10000 British and Canadian troops, 584 warships, 140000 sailors (worldwide), 31000 marines.  Based on the information in the chart, why might congress have been divided about declaring war on Britain?  A. members of congress did not believe the American military could compete with the British military.  B. some representatives were not convinced that the rumors about the Native American attacks were true.  C. southern representatives were less concerned about British interference in American shipping.  D. the War Hawks had more supporters n the House of Representatives than in the Senate.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Based on the information provided, Congress might have been divided about declaring war on Britain for a few reasons. However, the most direct answer from the options given is:

A. members of Congress did not believe the American military could compete with the British military.

This option reflects the disparities in military preparedness and strength between the United States and Britain, which could have caused hesitation among Congress members regarding the declaration of war. The overwhelming advantage in troops, ships, and overall military resources that Britain possessed likely contributed to doubts about the viability of engaging in a war at that time.

Option B might also have influenced opinions, but it doesn’t speak as strongly to the military comparison. Option C is more specific and doesn't necessarily address the overall debate about war, while option D pertains to internal party dynamics rather than the general concerns over military capability or legitimacy of the war.