Presidential Election of 1816

IN THE 1816 U.S. presidential election, James Madison completed his second term as president, and the Federalist Party was in disarray. Madison had been secretary of state to Thomas Jefferson, and had succeeded him, with James Monroe, Madison's secretary of state, running for president for the Democratic-Republicans, and was elected by a large majority, but not without controversy.

The War of 1812 ended with the British being driven out of the United States, although not with the U.S. forces being victorious, despite having won the final battle at New Orleans. This had strengthened the position of James Madison, and weakened the Federalists who had argued against the war, and some had talked of secession by New England. James Monroe, the secretary of state, was from Virginia and on March 4, 1816, was nominated by the Democratic-Republicans as their candidate for the upcoming U.S. presidential elections. The caucus chose New York Governor Daniel D. Tomp-kins. Tompkins was made commander-in-chief of the New York Militia in the War of 1812, after the catastrophe at Queenston, and was an opponent of slavery. Thompson later introduced a law in 1817 that abolished slavery in New York. The choice of Tompkins shows the importance of New York in the electoral politics of the United States in the early-19th century. With Monroe holding Virginia, his home state, and all the states south of Virginia, support from New York would ensure his victory.

The number of seats in the Electoral College in 1816 had expanded to 221 because Congress had, on April 19, 1816, passed an enabling act for the Territory of Indiana. This allowed the territory to hold a constitutional convention that would lead to the formation of a state government and admission into the Union. On June 29, Indiana adopted a state constitution and on December 11, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution granting Indiana statehood, a series of events that led to the presidential election results being challenged.

With the total number of seats in the Electoral College now at 221, there were nine states where the state legislatures appointed the state's electors: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, South Carolina, Vermont, with Massachusetts changing its system again and returning to the system used there in 1808, also having its legislature appointing electors. In New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia, the electors were chosen by all the voters in the state, the winner getting the entire Electoral College seats of the state. Kentucky, Maryland, and Tennessee continued with their system by which they divided their [Page 562]states into electoral districts, which would result in the votes of the state being split.

The 1816 election saw controversy over the new state of Indiana's votes, but James Monroe's win was soon confirmed.

The Federalists were initially unable to find a candidate, and eventually agreed on Rufus King, who had been twice defeated as a vice presidential candidate. Although he had added some votes in 1816 without being a proper candidate, there was little chance of King winning, but more a matter of how large the protest vote by the Federalists and their supporters would be. The Democratic-Republicans led by Monroe could once again count on the state legislatures of Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina supporting them, giving them, respectively, eight, three, and 11 seats. It was also likely that the 29 seats from New York would go to Monroe. Even though King was from the state, apart from the 1812 election when DeWitt Clinton had stood, the state had not supported King in the previous two presidential elections. In the states that held statewide elections, the results were often easy to forecast. Monroe would carry North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, giving him, respectively, 15, 25, and 25 seats. Thus, he was assured of 116 votes, with another possible 29 from New York, giving him an easy victory. Even allowing for the loss of all of New England, Monroe's victory was assured. King faced the same problems he had in 1804 and 1808. Despite the Federalist stronghold in New England, if a Federalist candidate could not win New York and Pennsylvania, there was no hope of winning the overall election.

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