Tag Archives: Jefferson

How President Madison Responded to New England’s Threat of Secession

To recap: On October 17, 1814 the legislature in Massachusetts invited New England states to a convention in Hartford on December 15.  They responded.  Connecticut named seven delegates.  Rhode Island appointed four delegates.   Democratic-Republicans blocked attempts to appoint delegates in … Continue reading

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Governor Caleb Strong’s Secret Mission

In the weeks before the Hartford Convention, George Cabot and Harrison Gray Otis did not know that Governor Caleb Strong sent an emissary to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  In November, 1814, his representative approached General Sir John Sherbrooke.  Governor Strong wanted … Continue reading

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What Timothy Pickering Hoped the Hartford Convention Would Accomplish

In Washington, November 28, 1814 Timothy Pickering wrote a letter to John Lowell, Jr.  After touching upon the notion he formerly held that “the Western States go off, leaving the ‘good old thirteen States…to themselves’ ”  Pickering wrote of the … Continue reading

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Why Timothy Pickering Had His Doubts

After years promoting a convention of New England states, Timothy Pickering was in favor of it. George Cabot and Harrison Gray Otis, two moderates, headed the delegation from Massachusetts.  In a confidential letter to John Lowell, Pickering began by praising George … Continue reading

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What the Committee Reported

Harrison Gray Otis reported for his committee: “The state of the national Treasury…requires an augmentation of existing taxes; and if in addition to these the people of Massachusetts, deprived of their commerce and harassed by a formidable enemy, are compelled … Continue reading

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How Massachusetts Reacted When the British Captured Castine, Maine

New England was defenseless against the British.  Earlier in the war, Federalist governors refused to pledge their state militias to defense of the nation. [1] After the British captured Castine, a town in Maine, Governor Strong of Massachusetts called up … Continue reading

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How Napoleon’s Defeat at Leipzig Affected War in the United States

    In October 1813, Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig.  On April 11, 1814, Austria, Russia and Prussia formed an alliance, signing the Treaty of Fontainebleau.  The treaty removed Napoleon as emperor of France, exiling him to the isle … Continue reading

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How the Embargo of 1813 Affected New England

Despite Federalist protests against the war, New England’s economy prospered.  Enterprising New Englanders profited by smuggling goods to the British in Canada.  Madison was outraged.  He reported to Congress on December 9, 1813: “The tendency of our commercial and navigation … Continue reading

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How the Peace Party Failed

  Noah Webster’s friends tried to broaden the scheme for a convention.  They proposed a state-wide convention in Massachusetts.   Federalist Party leaders knew the Massachusetts senate would never approve of a convention.  It had a Democratic-Republican majority.[1] Instead, they backed … Continue reading

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What Noah Webster Had Already Done

Noah Webster had proposed a convention to Governor Strong.  Cautiously, Strong brought Webster’s idea to his council, controlled by the Federalists.  The council shelved Webster’s proposal.  They favored a more cautious approach.  They advocated Federalists hold conventions in the counties.  … Continue reading

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