How did federalists feel about the war of 1812?

Answer 1

Yes, the Federalists opposed the War of 1812 because they were sympathetic to the British during the French Revolution and remained their supporters. This was the main cause in the Federalists decline in power, as they were painted as unpatriotic by the Jeffersonian Republicans.

Answer 2

Even though the War of 1812 was fought over our rights as neutral on the high seas, the Federalists in New England were opposed to the war. The merchants in New England had sufffered due to the boycotts and embargoes placed against trading with France and England. New England tried to prevent a declaration of war and some New England states even refused to send militia to help fight. New England even continued to sell supplies to England during the war. Toward the end of the war, the New England states drew up the Hartford Convention which was in effect a demand that unless the War ended, New England would withdraw from the Union. The victory over the British in New Orleans, and the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, arrived in Washington before the Hartford Convention.