The Federalist Party made a relatively strong showing, winning seats in both chambers while supporting a competitive challenge to the incumbent Democratic-Republican president.

Federalists won major gains, but Democratic-Republicans continued to dominate the chamber.

[5] In the Senate, Federalists picked up a small number of seats, but Democratic-Republicans retained a dominant majority.

[6] Military conflict resulting from the Napoleonic Wars in Europe had been steadily worsening throughout James Madison's first term, and the British and French had been ignoring the neutrality of the United States at sea by seizing American ships to look for supposed deserters.

The Federalist Party had dominated the American government from 1789 to 1801 under Alexander Hamilton whilst retaining a stronghold in New England.