The northeast states did not “threaten to secede” as was argued by Democratic-Republicans at the time, followed by tariff nullifiers and pro-slavery secessionists later.

The Hartford Convention was the result of a dispute with the federal government over the deployment and control of the state militia and the rising cost of defense at a time when New England had been subjected to raids from Canada and along the coast. In the fall of 1814, the Massachusetts legislature recommended a convention to air the region's grievances and resolve its problems. Massachusetts sent 12 delegates, Connecticut, seven; and Rhode Island, four. New Hampshire and Vermont declined to participate in the convention, although two counties from each sent delegates. In all, 26 delegates took part.

Despite some clamoring in the New England (mostly Federalist) press for secession and a separate peace, the convention that met on December 15, 1814 pursued a moderate course. Only Timothy Bigelow of Massachusetts favored extreme measures and he didn't play a major role. When asked what would likely result from the convention, Josiah Quincy of Massachusetts said: "A Great Pamphlet!"

The final report was published on January 6, 1815. Half the report regarded the defense problem, a federal law that authorized the enlistment of minors in the army, and federal proposals to draft men into the army and navy. The only radical proposal, basically nullification of unconstitutional laws based off the Kentucky-Virginia Resolutions, dealt strictly with the draft and enlistment of minors. The rest of the report dealt with proposed amendments to correct what the Federalists felt were long-term problems with the constitution. Most importantly, the report expressly opposed any irrevocable step that might lead to disunion and recommended "a course of moderation and firmness." If the grievances were not met, the report merely called for another convention to convene in June 1815.

Of course, since the report came out on the heels of the crushing U.S. victory in the Battle of New Orleans and the end of the war, the Hartford Convention became a synonym for disloyalty and treason and the Federalist Party went into rapid decline

See Donald Hickey, "The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict" (University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1989) and David S. Heidler & Jeanne T. Heilder, Ed. "Encyclopedia of the War of 1812" PP. 233-234 (ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, CA 1997)