This next series of presidential elections can be summed up easily and quickly...the Federalist Party died off and left the country with one political party. As a result, the Jeffersonians dominated the presidency.
1804: Thomas Jefferson v. Charles Pinckney. Jefferson was a popular and successful incumbent. He won in a landslide. 162-14 in the electoral college.
1808: James Madison v. Charles Pinckney. Madison was Jefferson's hand picked successor. Pinckney was a one-time loser. Jefferson's second term was a disaster, but the Federalists were dying off and not much of a threat by '08. Madison wins 122-47.
1812: James Madison v. Dewitt Clinton. Madison was fighting the War of 1812 and was the incumbent. The war was not very popular and almost led to a civil war. The Federalist Party continued to sink and became more extreme. This election was similar to 2004. Madison wins 128-89 in a close election. A strong opposition party might have had a shot at knocking off the incumbent.
1816: James Monroe vs. Rufus King. This is the end for the Federalists. Monroe was Madison's hand picked successor and acquitted himself well as Secretary of State and Secretary of War during the War of 1812. The Federalists held a convention at the end of the war and discussed seceding from the union. Then, the war ended and they looked like traitors. Monroe wins 183-34 and the Federalist Party dies.
1820: James Monroe vs. No One. Monroe runs unopposed. There is no opposition party. Monroe wins.
Hard to believe, but 1824 would bring one of the most controversial and cantankerous elections ever.
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