The American Presidential Election of 1816

Summary

The video covers the 1816 U.S. presidential election, highlighting how President James Madison chose not to seek a third term, following the War of 1812. His Secretary of State, James Monroe, emerged as the favorite to succeed him, with the Democratic-Republicans dominating and the Federalist Party weakened by opposition to the war. Despite initial resistance to the Virginia political dynasty, Monroe secured a landslide victory over Federalist Rufus King. Monroe received 183 electoral votes, signaling the start of the 'Era of Good Feelings,' with Daniel D. Tompkins as his vice president.

Takeaways

• 🗳️ The 8th U.S. presidential election took place from November 1st to December 4th, 1816.
• 🇺🇸 President James Madison decided not to run for a third term, following the examples of Jefferson and Washington.
• ⚔️ Madison's presidency was heavily influenced by the War of 1812, during which he proved to be a strong leader.
• 🎉 The post-war period marked the beginning of the 'Era of Good Feelings,' with a surge of nationalism uniting the country.
• 🎖️ James Monroe, Madison’s Secretary of State, was popular and became the favored candidate to succeed him.
• 🏛️ The Federalist Party's opposition to the War of 1812 and talk of secession at the Hartford Convention made them increasingly unpopular.
• 📉 By 1816, the Federalist Party was in decline, and they didn’t officially nominate a candidate for the presidency.
• 🏅 James Monroe received the Democratic-Republican nomination, despite concerns about the dominance of the 'Virginia dynasty.'
• 🗳️ Monroe easily won the election with 183 electoral votes, while Federalist Rufus King received just 34.
• 📊 Monroe secured 68.2% of the popular vote, marking a landslide victory.

Q & A

Who was the incumbent president during the 1816 election?

James Madison was the incumbent president during the 1816 election, but he chose not to run for a third term.

What major event influenced Madison's second term?

Madison's second term was heavily influenced by the War of 1812.

Why was Madison popular after the War of 1812, despite the United States not winning?

Madison was popular because Americans felt good about their ability to defend themselves against the British, which contributed to a sense of nationalism.

What era did the 1816 election mark the beginning of?

The 1816 election marked the beginning of the 'Era of Good Feelings,' a period of national unity and increased nationalism.

Who was the Democratic-Republican candidate for president in 1816?

James Monroe, Madison’s Secretary of State, was the Democratic-Republican candidate for president in 1816.

Why were the Federalists unpopular during the 1816 election?

The Federalists were unpopular due to their opposition to the War of 1812 and discussions about seceding from the Union during the Hartford Convention.

What major issue arose during the Hartford Convention?

One of the major issues at the Hartford Convention was concern over the growing power of the federal government.

What stance did Madison take later in his presidency that aligned him more with Federalist ideas?

Later in his presidency, Madison began supporting a National Bank and protective tariffs, aligning him more with Federalist ideas.

Did the Federalist Party officially nominate a candidate in 1816?

No, the Federalist Party did not officially nominate a candidate in 1816, though many Federalists supported Rufus King.

What were the final results of the 1816 presidential election?

James Monroe won the 1816 presidential election with 183 electoral votes, while Rufus King received only 34 electoral votes. Monroe also won 68.2% of the popular vote to King's 30.9%.