The Election of 1808
The election of 1808 was the 6th quadrennial presidential election. It was held from Friday, November 4, to Wednesday, December 7, 1808. By this time, the Anti-Federalists were known as the Democratic-Republican party. The election followed two terms in officer by President Thomas Jefferson, who decided to follow the precedent set by George Washington of not seeking a third consecutive term in office. The Democratic Republican party selected James Madison as their candidate while the Federalist party candidate was Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina. Madison was serving as United States Secretary of State in Jefferson's administration, while Pinckney had been the unsuccessful Federalist candidate in the election of 1804.
Madison's strongest challenge came from members of his own party. Sitting Vice President George Clinton challenged Madison for leadership of the party prior to the general election. Clinton received six electoral votes in the general election, all from New York. This election was the first of only two times in American history when a new President would be elected but the incumbent Vice President would continue to serve.
Nominations for the 1808 presidential election were made by congressional caucuses. After Thomas Jefferson announced his expected intention to retire, supporters of Secretary of State James Madison of Virginia began to work for his nomination. Madison's primary competition for the nomination came from former Ambassador James Monroe of Virginia and Vice President George Clinton. Monroe was supported by a group that was dissatisfied with the Louisiana Purchase and the Compact of 1802. Clinton's support came from Northern Democratic-Republicans who disapproved of the Embargo Act and who wanted to end the Virginia Dynasty. The Congressional caucus chose Madison as its candidate for president and Clinton as its candidate for vice president. In the balloting for the presidential candidate, Madison captured 83 votes, compared with 3 each for Monroe and Clinton. In the balloting for the Vice-Presidential candidate, Clinton received 79 votes, with John Langdon getting 5, Henry Dearborn getting 3
and John Quincy Adams getting 1.
The Federalist caucus renominated General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina and former Senator Rufus King of New York as their ticket.
One of the key election issues was opposition to Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, which halted trade with Europe that disproportionately hurt New England merchants and was perceived as favoring France over Britain. In spite of this, a majority supported Madison over Pinckney, although Pinckney picked up support in several New England states.
When the final results were in, Madison received 122 electoral votes, compared to 47 for Pinckney and 6 for George Clinton. James Monroe received some popular votes but no electoral votes. In the race for Vice-President, George Clinton received 113 electoral votes, compared to 47 for Rufus King. John Langdon of New Hampshire received 9 electoral votes for Vice-President while Madison and Monroe received three each.
In this election only 10 of the 17 states chose electors by popular vote. One Elector from Kentucky did not vote.
Madison's strongest challenge came from members of his own party. Sitting Vice President George Clinton challenged Madison for leadership of the party prior to the general election. Clinton received six electoral votes in the general election, all from New York. This election was the first of only two times in American history when a new President would be elected but the incumbent Vice President would continue to serve.
Nominations for the 1808 presidential election were made by congressional caucuses. After Thomas Jefferson announced his expected intention to retire, supporters of Secretary of State James Madison of Virginia began to work for his nomination. Madison's primary competition for the nomination came from former Ambassador James Monroe of Virginia and Vice President George Clinton. Monroe was supported by a group that was dissatisfied with the Louisiana Purchase and the Compact of 1802. Clinton's support came from Northern Democratic-Republicans who disapproved of the Embargo Act and who wanted to end the Virginia Dynasty. The Congressional caucus chose Madison as its candidate for president and Clinton as its candidate for vice president. In the balloting for the presidential candidate, Madison captured 83 votes, compared with 3 each for Monroe and Clinton. In the balloting for the Vice-Presidential candidate, Clinton received 79 votes, with John Langdon getting 5, Henry Dearborn getting 3
and John Quincy Adams getting 1.
The Federalist caucus renominated General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina and former Senator Rufus King of New York as their ticket.
One of the key election issues was opposition to Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, which halted trade with Europe that disproportionately hurt New England merchants and was perceived as favoring France over Britain. In spite of this, a majority supported Madison over Pinckney, although Pinckney picked up support in several New England states.
When the final results were in, Madison received 122 electoral votes, compared to 47 for Pinckney and 6 for George Clinton. James Monroe received some popular votes but no electoral votes. In the race for Vice-President, George Clinton received 113 electoral votes, compared to 47 for Rufus King. John Langdon of New Hampshire received 9 electoral votes for Vice-President while Madison and Monroe received three each.
In this election only 10 of the 17 states chose electors by popular vote. One Elector from Kentucky did not vote.