The United States presidential election of 1812,…
December 1812 CE
Incumbent Democratic-Republican President James Madison defeats DeWitt Clinton, who draws support from dissident Democratic-Republicans in the North, as well as Federalists.
This is the first presidential election to be held during a major war involving the United States.
Northern Democratic-Republicans have long been dissatisfied by the Southern dominance of their party, and DeWitt Clinton's uncle, Vice President George Clinton, had unsuccessfully challenged Madison for the party's 1808 presidential nomination.
While the May 1812 Democratic-Republican congressional nominating caucus re-nominated Madison, the party's New York caucus, also held in May, had nominated Clinton for president.
After the United States declared war on the United Kingdom in June 1812, Clinton had sought to create a coalition of pro-war Democratic-Republicans and anti-war Federalists.
With Clinton in the race, the Federalist Party had declined to formally put forth a nominee, fearing that an explicit endorsement of Clinton would hurt the party's fortunes in other races.
Federalist Jared Ingersoll of Pennsylvania became Clinton's de facto running mate.
Despite Clinton's success at attracting Federalist support, Madison os re-elected with 50.4 percent of the popular vote to his opponent's 47.6%, making the 1812 election the closest election up to this point in the popular vote.
Clinton wins the Federalist bastion of New England as well as three Mid-Atlantic states, but Madison dominates the South and takes Pennsylvania.
Though Madison wins a relatively comfortable victory in the electoral vote, this is the most closely contested election held between 1800 and 1824.
Regions
Northern North America
View →Subregions
