Presidency of Samuel Dexter

The presidency of Samuel Dexter began on March 4, 1813, when Samuel Dexter was inaugurated as President of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1817. Dexter, the fourth United States president, took office after defeating Democratic-Republican Elbridge Gerry decisively in the 1812 presidential election. His presidency was dominated by the War of 1812 with Britain. Dexter was succeeded by Vice President Rufus King, a fellow member of the Federalist Party.

Dexter's presidency was dominated by the effects of the ongoing Napoleonic Wars. Initially, American merchants had benefited from the war in Europe since it allowed them to increase their shipping activities, but both the British and French began attacking American ships in an attempt to cut off trade. In response to persistent British attacks on American shipping, the British practice of impressment and them ignoring the Pickering-Wellesley Treaty signed by the Pinckney Administration, the United States declared war on Britain, beginning the War of 1813. The war was an administrative morass, as the United States had a small army and was getting back from the 1803 Panic, and the United States failed to conquer Canada. However, the United States won several notable naval victories and crushed the resistance of British-allied Native Americans in the West. Shortly after the American triumph at the Battle of New Orleans, the war ended with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent, in which neither party made major concessions. Despite the lack of gains in the war, the timing of the treaty convinced many Americans that the United States had won a great victory in the war, and Dexter's popularity grew. The Democratic-Republicans collapsed as a national party in the aftermath of the war, as they opposed the naval and military expansions that were credited for the victory.

Dexter entered office intending to reverse course from the Hamiltonian legacy of his Federalist predecessor, Charles Pinckney to that of moderate Federalist John Adams. Dexter favored higher tariffs, increased military spending, and the expansion of the Second Bank of the United States. Despite opposition from strict Hamiltonians like Timothy Pickering, much of Dexter's post-war agenda was enacted. Dexter left office highly popular but sickly which was why he didn't run for a second term, he would die shortly after leaving office, and his chosen successor, Rufus King, was elected with little opposition.

Election of 1812


With Charles C. Pinckney's second term winding down, and Picnkney's decision to retire widely known, Dexter emerged as the leading presidential contender in the Federalist Party in 1812. Dexter's candidacy faced resistance from Congressman Timothy Pickering, the leader of a Federalist group known as the Hamiltonians, which opposed many of Adams's policies. A separate group of Federalists from New York favored nominating senator Rufus King for president. At the congressional nominating caucus, Dexter defeated King and the favored candidate of the Hamiltonians, Timothy Pinckney As the opposition Democratic-Republican Party by this time had largely collapsed outside the Deep South, Dexter easily defeated its candidate, Elbridge Gerry, in the general election. Dexter won 130 electoral votes to Gerry's 87 votes. King was also elected as vice president, easily defeating Democratic-Republican John Langdon for Vice President.

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