Important Presidential Elections
Important Presidential ElectionsSome of the most important presidential elections
1812
The election of 1812 consisted of a battle between James Madison, and De
Witt Clinton. Madison had represented both Democratic and Republican
beliefs, while Clinton was a Federalist.
James Madison was born in Port Conway, Va., on March 16, 1751. A
Princeton graduate, he joined the struggle for independence on his return
to Virginia in 1771. He had been an active politician in the 1770’s and
1780’s. He was greatly know for championing the Jefferson reform program,
and in the Continental Congress. Madison, in collaboration, had
participated greatly in the, Federalist, a paper who’s main purpose was to
ratify the constitution. Madison first became president in 1809, when he
bested Charles C. Pickney. He had led the U.S. in a very unpopular war, in
which the U.S. hadn’t been prepared for…the War of 1812.
De Witt Clinton was a Federalist, who’s main purpose of the election was
to get the U.S. out of a war in which he felt was very unnecessary. DeWitt
held every major elective office in New York between 1797 and
1828–assemblyman, senator, mayor of New York City, lieutenant governor,
and governor. He was a philanthropist and patron of the arts and science
and, as canal commissioner, championed construction of the Erie and
Champlain canals
The method in which these candidates received nomination was by the
Electoral College, or by King Caucus. The idea of political conventions
had not been present at this time. There were no third-party candidates in
this election.
The major issue of this election was the War of 1812. The War of 1812, or
“Mr. Madison’s War”, had been very unpopular among different sections of
America. Mainly the ship owners in New England. The war was supposed to
protect. This war was supposed to help their shipping, but instead, it had
kept them from trading and making money.
The winner of the election of 1812 was James Madison. Madison collected
128 electoral votes, while Clinton received 89, and the number of “No Votes
Cast” was 1. The Vice-presidential candidate, who won the election was
Elbridge Gerry, who received 131 electoral votes, while Jared Ingersoll
received 86. There was no record of the number of popular votes for this
election.
My opinion of why Madison had won the election is because he had led the
country into the War of 1812, and therefore, he should be allowed to fight
it. He was also...
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