3. The Hartford Convention (1814-1815)
As the War of 1812 dragged on, New England Federalists secretly gathered in Hartford to air grievances—and even discuss secession from the Union. Their anger over wartime policies and economic hardship revealed how deeply regional interests could threaten national unity. The war’s sudden end rendered their threats moot, but the episode left a lasting mark, exposing just how close the U.S. came to fracturing along regional lines. More here
