Summary The Hartford Convention was a secret meeting held by the Federalist Party in the late 1814's. The topic of the convention was secession. The New England based Federalists party was upset that the nation had entered the War of 1812. They feared that the young nation of America had no chance of defeating Britain in the war. They also feared that the war would help strengthen the opposing Republican party and allow Napoleon an opportunity to capture the vulnerable America. The convention was held over a span of a month from December 15, 1814 to January 5, 1815. On January 5,1815 the vote to secede from the union was turned down as the Americans had begun to win the war.
The Hartford Convention had long lasting effects. The meeting essentially ruined and exterminated the Federalist party as the American people lost trust in it. The downfall of the Federalist Party would leave room for other parties, such as the Republican Party to rise. |
Sectionalism The Hartford Convention marks a time of sectionalism in American history. The differing parties of the nation had such contrasting opinions that one party was thinking about leaving the nation. Sectionalism, the divide between a group, is personified through the general idea of secession. The Federalist party during this time was not full of pride in its nation. Rather, the party was fearful and felt it needed to be secluded from the entire union.
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