1814 and 1815 United States House of Representatives elections and the Burning of Washington by the British in 1814 were embarrassing setbacks, but the war was viewed by many as reasonably successful. National morale was high because the small American military overall had been able to fight British forces to a draw in coastal and frontier conflict. The election of 1814 was the last in which the declining Federalist Party was able to secure more than a third of the seats in the House of Representatives - and it was only barely able to do so. There were special elections in 1814 and 1815 to the 13th United States
Elizabeth Monroe for help, appointing him Secretary of War in September 1814 after the British had invaded the national capital and burned the White House. Monroe resigned as Secretary of State on October 1 but no successor was ever appointed, so he handled both offices from October 1, 1814, to February 28, 1815. As Secretary of War, Monroe formulated plans to invade Canada a second time to win the war, but the peace treaty was ratified in February, 1815, before any armies moved north. Monroe therefore resigned as Secretary of War and was formally reappointed Secretary of State. Monroe stayed on at