The Hartford Convention was a gathering of Federalist Party delegates from five New England states that met in Hartford, Connecticut, between December 15, 1814, and January 5, 1815. Its members convened to discuss their long-held grievances against the policies of the successive Democratic- Republican administrations of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

After that, the party never regained a national following. Its beliefs and actions during the War of 1812 helped seal its fate. By 1828 the Federalists became the first American political party to die out because it could not adjust to an increasingly democratic national spirit, especially in the nation's towns and cities. And among most Americans, mainly farmers suspicious of government, its policies of strong federal involvement in the economy kept it un-popular. Inconsistency in its stance toward military action (first undertaking a naval war with France, then treating for peace with that same nation, then actively opposing war with Britain) made the Federalist Party's true intentions suspect and laid it open to charges that it had no polices of its own and was not willing to defend the country's interests (Federalist party, n.d.).

The Role of the War of 1812 and for Madison's Presidency

National pride and patriotism were probably the most important results of the War of 1812. The Federalist's initial opposition to the war, and their hints of secession were viewed, after the war, as disloyal and unpatriotic. This contributed to the dissolution of the party.

Madison did not want the war at all, and his acumen as a war leader was amateurish compared to George Washington. The burning of the White House in 1814 by the British...

His performance after that, however, actually earned him approval from both parties and the public. And the inspiring battle at Fort McHenry helped.
Four months later, General Andrew Jackson struck the final blow with his smashing victory at the Battle of New Orleans, and everyone, including Madison, was a hero. His previously shaky reputation as a war leader was forgotten.

The impact of the war on Madison's presidency was that it, ultimately, made him quite popular. His final two years in office were quiet and peaceful for the country, and for him.

Bibliography

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Corps of discovery: President Jefferson's vision. (2003, October 10). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Center of Military History - U.S. Army: http://www.history.army.mil/LC/the%20Mission/Expedition/page_2.htm

Democratic-Republican party. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Law Library - American Law and Legal Information: http://law.jrank.org/pages/6058/Democratic-Republican-Party.html

Federalist party. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Bookrags.com: http://www.bookrags.com/history/federalist-party-aaw-01/

The new republic: the United States, 1789-1800, part 1. (2005, September 28). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from sagehistory.net: http://www.sagehistory.net/newrepublic/topics/1790spart1.htm

Thomas Jefferson. (2007, January 26). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jeffleg.html