1816 United States presidential election — eighth quadrennial presidential election. It was held from Friday, November 1 to Wednesday, December 4, 1816
Monroe's landslide victory over Federalist Rufus King effectively ended the Federalist Party as a national political force in the United States.
Key Facts
- Election dates
- November 1 – December 4, 1816
- Winner
- James Monroe (Democratic-Republican)
- Vice President elected
- Daniel D. Tompkins
- Federalist electoral votes
- 34 votes
- States carried by Monroe
- 16 of remaining states
- Federalist states won
- 3 (via legislature-chosen electors)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Federalist Party had been severely weakened by accusations of treason following the War of 1812 and was disorganized, unable to hold a nominating caucus or mount a national campaign. President James Madison's endorsement of a broad economic program, including chartering the Second Bank of the United States, undercut much of the Federalist platform and bolstered the Democratic-Republican position.
Held from November 1 to December 4, 1816, the election saw Democratic-Republican James Monroe and running mate Daniel D. Tompkins defeat the de facto Federalist candidate Rufus King. Monroe, nominated at his party's congressional caucus after narrowly defeating William H. Crawford, carried sixteen states amid widespread voter apathy. King, who did not actively campaign, received only 34 electoral votes from Federalist unpledged electors in three states.
Monroe's decisive victory ushered in what became known as the Era of Good Feelings, and the Federalist Party never again fielded a presidential candidate, instead supporting Monroe in the next election before dissolving entirely by the end of the 1820s. The result consolidated Democratic-Republican dominance of national politics and accelerated the collapse of the first American party system.
Political Outcome
James Monroe and Daniel D. Tompkins won the presidency and vice presidency; Rufus King received 34 electoral votes; Federalists carried only 3 states and ceased to function as a national party.
Madison administration (Democratic-Republican); weakened but extant Federalist opposition
Monroe administration (Democratic-Republican); Federalist Party effectively defunct nationally