The Hartford Convention, held from December 15, 1814, to January 5, 1815, in Hartford, Connecticut, was a critical event involving New England Federalists who convened to express their dissatisfaction with the War of 1812 and the Democratic-Republican government's policies. This gathering underscored the regional discontent particularly prevalent among the Federalist Party, whose power base was largely in New England.

During the convention, Federalist delegates proposed several constitutional amendments aimed at reducing the political power of the southern and western states. These proposals included the elimination of the Three-Fifths Compromise, which gave southern states greater representation in Congress, and the imposition of a two-thirds majority requirement in Congress for the admission of new states, declarations of war, and legislation imposing embargoes or restricting trade. These changes were largely motivated by grievances over the Louisiana Purchase and the Embargo of 1807, which the Federalists viewed as detrimental to New England's commercial interests.

The timing of the convention proved to be particularly unfortunate for the Federalists. Shortly after it concluded, news of Major General Andrew Jackson's decisive victory at the Battle of New Orleans reached the Northeast. This military success boosted national morale and rendered the grievances and proceedings of the Hartford Convention out of touch with the prevailing patriotic fervor.

The outcome and public perception of the Hartford Convention significantly tarnished the Federalist Party's reputation. Accusations of disloyalty and the specter of secession—despite historians' doubts about the convention's serious intent to pursue such a course—further isolated the party. This event contributed heavily to the Federalist Party's decline, leading to its eventual disappearance from the national political scene.