Page "James Monroe" Paragraph 27

The congressional nominating caucus experienced little opposition during the administrations of Jefferson and Madison, but this situation changed in the election year of 1816.

An indeterminate number of anti-Virginia Republicans, led by the New York delegation, objected to the caucus system along with the Federalists.

Disorganization and failure to agree on William H. Crawford, Daniel Tompkins, Henry Clay or another possible contender weakened opposition to Monroe.

The boycott by Virginia delegates of the March 12 caucus removed the chances of Monroe's opponents, and he received the caucus nomination four days later.

With the Federalist Party in disarray due to the unpopularity of their opposition to the War of 1812, he was easily elected.

The Federalists did not even name a candidate, though Rufus King of New York did run in opposition to Monroe under the Federalist banner.

King carried only Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts and won only 34 of 217 electoral votes cast.

( See United States presidential election, 1816.