In politics, a war hawk, or simply hawk, is someone who favors war or continuing to escalate an existing conflict as opposed to other solutions. War hawks are the opposite of doves. The terms are derived by analogy with the birds of the same name: hawks are predators that attack and eat other animals, whereas doves mostly eat seeds and fruit and are historically a symbol of peace.
Henry Clay, a "guiding spirit" of the 19th century war hawks.[1]
The term "war hawk" was coined in 1792 and was often used to ridicule politicians who favored a pro-war policy in peacetime. Historian Donald R. Hickey found 129 uses of the term in American newspapers before late 1811, mostly from Federalists warning against Democratic-Republican foreign policy. Some antiwar Democratic-Republicans used it, such as Virginia Congressman John Randolph of Roanoke.[2] There was never any "official" roster of War Hawks; as Hickey notes, "Scholars differ over who (if anyone) ought to be classified as a War Hawk."[3] However, most historians use the term to describe about one or two dozen members of the Twelfth Congress. The leader of this faction was Speaker of the HouseHenry Clay of Kentucky. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was another notable War Hawk. Both of these men became major players in American politics for decades, despite failing to win the presidency themselves. Other men traditionally identified as War Hawks include Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky, William Lowndes of South Carolina, Langdon Cheves of South Carolina, Felix Grundy of Tennessee, and William W. Bibb of Georgia.[1]
President James Madison set the legislative agenda for Congress, providing committees in the House of Representatives with policy recommendations to be introduced as bills on the House floor.[4] Nevertheless, he was regarded as a "timid soul" and tried to restrain the martial zeal of the War Hawks.[1]
The term "liberal hawk" is a derivation of the traditional phrase, in the sense that it denotes an individual with "socially liberal" inclinations coupled with an aggressive outlook on foreign policy.
In modern American usage "hawk" refers to a fierce advocate for a cause or policy, such as "deficit hawk" or "privacy hawk". It may also refer to a person or political leader who favors a strong or aggressive military policy, though not necessarily outright war.
See also
Look up wargasm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^ abcEaton, Clement (1957). Henry Clay and the Art of American Politics. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 25.
^Hickey, Donald R. (April 2014). "'War Hawks': Using Newspapers to Trace a Phrase, 1792-1812'". Journal of Military History. 78 (2): 725-740.
^Hickey, Donald R. (2012). The War of 1812. University of Illinois Press. p. 334n.8. ISBN9780252078378. JSTOR 10.5406/j.ctt3fh41c.
^Stagg, J.C.A. (1976). "James Madison and the 'Malcontents': The Political Origins of the War of 1812". The William and Mary Quarterly. 33 (4): 557–585. doi:10.2307/1921716. JSTOR 1921716765.
March 08, 2023
hawk, other, uses, warhawk, disambiguation, politics, hawk, simply, hawk, someone, favors, continuing, escalate, existing, conflict, opposed, other, solutions, opposite, doves, terms, derived, analogy, with, birds, same, name, hawks, predators, that, attack, o. For other uses see Warhawk disambiguation In politics a war hawk or simply hawk is someone who favors war or continuing to escalate an existing conflict as opposed to other solutions War hawks are the opposite of doves The terms are derived by analogy with the birds of the same name hawks are predators that attack and eat other animals whereas doves mostly eat seeds and fruit and are historically a symbol of peace Contents 1 Historical group 2 Variations of the term 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistorical group Edit Henry Clay a guiding spirit of the 19th century war hawks 1 The term war hawk was coined in 1792 and was often used to ridicule politicians who favored a pro war policy in peacetime Historian Donald R Hickey found 129 uses of the term in American newspapers before late 1811 mostly from Federalists warning against Democratic Republican foreign policy Some antiwar Democratic Republicans used it such as Virginia Congressman John Randolph of Roanoke 2 There was never any official roster of War Hawks as Hickey notes Scholars differ over who if anyone ought to be classified as a War Hawk 3 However most historians use the term to describe about one or two dozen members of the Twelfth Congress The leader of this faction was Speaker of the House Henry Clay of Kentucky John C Calhoun of South Carolina was another notable War Hawk Both of these men became major players in American politics for decades despite failing to win the presidency themselves Other men traditionally identified as War Hawks include Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky William Lowndes of South Carolina Langdon Cheves of South Carolina Felix Grundy of Tennessee and William W Bibb of Georgia 1 President James Madison set the legislative agenda for Congress providing committees in the House of Representatives with policy recommendations to be introduced as bills on the House floor 4 Nevertheless he was regarded as a timid soul and tried to restrain the martial zeal of the War Hawks 1 Variations of the term EditThe term has also been expanded into chicken hawk referring to a war hawk who avoided military service The term liberal hawk is a derivation of the traditional phrase in the sense that it denotes an individual with socially liberal inclinations coupled with an aggressive outlook on foreign policy In modern American usage hawk refers to a fierce advocate for a cause or policy such as deficit hawk or privacy hawk It may also refer to a person or political leader who favors a strong or aggressive military policy though not necessarily outright war See also Edit Look up wargasm in Wiktionary the free dictionary Animal epithet Warmonger disambiguation War doveReferences Edit a b c Eaton Clement 1957 Henry Clay and the Art of American Politics Boston MA Little Brown and Company pp 25 Hickey Donald R April 2014 War Hawks Using Newspapers to Trace a Phrase 1792 1812 Journal of Military History 78 2 725 740 Hickey Donald R 2012 The War of 1812 University of Illinois Press p 334n 8 ISBN 9780252078378 JSTOR 10 5406 j ctt3fh41c Stagg J C A 1976 James Madison and the Malcontents The Political Origins of the War of 1812 The William and Mary Quarterly 33 4 557 585 doi 10 2307 1921716 JSTOR 1921716765 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title War hawk amp oldid 1139315547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
