Election of 1816: Continuing the Virginia Presidential Tradition

Election Results:
Monroe and Tompkins: 183 electoral votes.
King and Howard: 34 electoral votes.
(Four electoral votes were not cast)

Summary:
James Madison was more than willing to step down after two terms of the presidency, leaving the United States more independent than when he was elected in 1808. The British threat of retaking the United States had been sufficiently deal with and the young nation returned to the business within its borders. The Democratic-Republican congressional caucus, with the blessing of President Monroe, chose James Madison to run as president and New York Governor Daniel Tompkins as vice president. There was a minor movement within the Democratic-Republicans to nominate Secretary of War William Crawford of Georgia as president, but Crawford wanted to maintain his relationship with the president so that he would stay a key figure in the cabinet and did not actively campaign. The congressional caucus system was challenged by Kentucky politician Henry Clay, who wanted a more democratic manner in selecting a nominee. His attempts to reform the system fell on deaf ears and the caucus remained for a few more election cycles.

The Federalists, much maligned following the War of 1812, had been neutralized before the 1816 presidential election. Most of the public (even many within the New England states) had seen the Federalists as pro-British and anti-American during the war, especially when the remaining Federalists called for secession of the northern states during the 1814 Hartford Convention. The few Federalists remaining in power decided to informally chose veteran politician Rufus King of New York as their standard bearer, but the writing was on the wall and this would be the last stand of the Federalists in American politics.

Despite problems during the war, the Democratic-Republicans were able to capitalize on the heroism of General Andrew Jackson in the southern campaign against England and the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 to show that the war was a success. Monroe was able to use his relationship with Madison and his successes as well as calling for a new national bank and higher tariffs to show his commitment to American nationalism. The Federalists campaigned in limited areas against a Virginia dynasty, but this tired complaint was drowned out by raucous Democratic-Republican events and the song “Star Spangled Banner” in honor of America’s successful defense against the British. Much like the past two elections, the Democratic-Republicans were able to win solidly through the south and the west, while taking some New England states to cut into Federalist support. King was only able to garner electoral votes in Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts and his attempts to cast Madison as a failed diplomat sealed the fate of the Federalist Party in the United States.