Hartford Convention
Definition
The Hartford Convention was a meeting held by New England Federalists in late 1814-early 1815 to discuss their grievances about the War of 1812 and consider secession from Union.
Analogy
Imagine if a group of students were so upset with how a school event (like prom) was being run that they held their own meeting to voice complaints and even discuss boycotting or holding their own separate event. That's similar to what happened at the Hartford Convention.
Related terms
Secession: The act of withdrawing from an organization or federation, like what was discussed during the Hartford Convention.
War Hawks: Members of Congress who pushed for war against Britain leading up to War of 1812; they were opposed by New England Federalists who later convened at Hartford Convention.
Embargo Act of 1807: A law that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports, causing economic hardship especially in New England and contributing to discontent leading up to Hartford Convention.
"Hartford Convention" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (2)
- What was the primary goal of the Hartford Convention held in 1814?
- What changes to the Constitution did the Hartford Convention recommend?
Resources
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