Figure 1.--k

The election of 1800 is arguably the most critical in American history. The country knew they could trust Washington. The abilities and judhement of those who followed him were an open question. While political parties played no role in the 1792 election, they certainly did in the 1800 election. The election was notable because of the extemely partisan nature of the election and the vitriolic attacks on former Revolution War friends and colleagues. It was particularly important as it resulted in the first transfer of power from one party to the other and despite the contentious nature of the election, it occured peacefully with President Adams quietly leaving Washington by stage coach before President Jefferson's innaguration. This was a momentous event, the peaceful transfer of power to an oposition power. One reason that monarchy had endured so long in human history is thatit provided for a peaceful sucession from one monarch to another. The transfer of power in a republican government is much less asured. Setting this precent in the Ameican Republic was a critical step. The election also involved a major realignment in Americamn politics. The Democratic-Republican victories in the Congressional elections essentially destroyed the Federalists as a national party. President Adams packed the Federal Courts with Federalists which essentially meant that they could continue to exert influence through the Federal courts led by the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall.

Critical Momment

The election of 1800 is arguably the most critical in American history. The country knew they could trust Washington. The abilities and judhement of those who followed him were an open question. While political parties played no role in the 1792 election, they certainly did in the 1800 election. The election was also perhaps the most angerous in merican history. Adams and the Federalists had shown themselves through the Alien and Sedition Acts willing to use police power to stifel discent. The Constitution was not yet venerated in the modern sence. Many Republicans thought they should have won in 1796. The two great fifures of the Revolution now thart Washington was gone had become personal estrained. And a third figure of questionable scruples, Aron Burr, entered the picture.

Political Parties

The 1800 election was the first modern American election in that it was fought by established political parties. The first two elections (1789 and 92) in which Washington was elected were more coranations than elections. The third election (1796) un which Adams was elected saw political parties begin to influence the election, but they were still at a very early organizatioinal stage. This was not the case in 1800. The Federalists and the Reopublicans were well organized political parties and prepared to contest the presidency. [Larson]

Nominations

As there was no provision for political parties in the Constitution, there was no provision for how the parties should nominate candidates. Both parties decided to nominate candidates by party caucuses in Congress. Congress was an easily available institution where leading party members from across the country were already gathered. The Federalist Party was strongest in New England and thus dominated by its New England delegation. This ensured the renominantion of President Adams. They also nominated John Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina to provide a regional balance. While it did that, Pinckney did little to swing southern voters. The Republicans in Congress who were beginning to call themselves Democratic-Republicans, nominated Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Burr was an important fixture in the New York Republican Party. It was clear to many at the time that New York would likely decide the election. ThecFederalists were strongest in New England and the Republicans in the Soutth. Thus the election would be determined by how the mid-Atlantic states went. Burr would clearly help to swing New York to the Republicans.

Campaign

The election was notable because of the extemely partisan nature of the election and the vitriolic attacks on former Revolution War friends and colleagues. There had not been a true campaign in 1796, in 1800 there was. It was essentially the beginning of American presidential electoral politics. The 18000 election was the first election in which the press played a major role. The major Federalist newspaper was The Gazette of the United States. The Federalists continued to label the Republicans as "democrats" and Jacobins, again trying to pin the excesses of the French Revolution on Jefferson. The Revolution had of course executed the King Louis XVI and descended into The Terror. The Revolution also attacked the Church. The Federalists again tried to attack Jefferson's religion or lack of religion. This time Jefferson answered back. The Republicans also attempted to appealed to discenting religious groups like the Baptists which resented the Espiscophal church supported by many Federalists. [Larson] A major issue in the campaign was the Navy that President Adams and the Federalists had built. The Republicans were suspious of any standing military force. They complained that it was expensive and the the country's focus should be on faemers the West rather than on big city merchants--an ideological divide that has continued into modern times. Jefferson himself was supicious of merchants and considered that farmers were the backbone of the new nation. He was not, however, amony the most vociferous anti-Navy republicans. TheRepublicans were correct that the Navy was expensive. But it was also true that the coist of building the Navy was only a fraction of the losses to French depredations and increases in marine insurance. President Adams was weakened by a split in his party. Alexander Hamilton, a major fixture in the Federalist Party, was completely estranged from the President. Hamilton as a result campaigned for Pinckney, but not for President Adams.

Results

Running as a candidate of a divided party virtually ensured President Adams' defeat. It was, however, a close election. The Federalists ascexpected carried New England and did well in the mid-Atlantic states. The Republicand carried almost all of the South. The Republicans carried the West, but it was only two states (Kentucky and Tennesseee). The Republican margin of victory proved to be New York. And in New York Hamilton undermined Adams and vice-presidential candidate Aaron Burr helped to swing the state to the Republicans. There is no doubt that Burr played a key role in the Democratic-Republican victory. The Democratic-Republican candidates (Jefferson and Burr) received 73 electoral votes. The framers of the Constitution had not anticipated this. There is no provision for multiple ballots in the Electoral College. The choice of president was thus thrown into the House of Representatives. And Burr even though the Republican caucus nominated him for the the vice-presidency, he refused to defer to Jefferson. Here Hamilton played a decisive role. He and Burr had competed in New York and as much as he differed with Jefferson, he questioned the character of Burr. He swung key Federalist votes to Jefferson.

Transfer of Power

The election was particularly important as it resulted in the first transfer of power from one party to the other. This is a momentous point in any new democratic government. And of course the United states was the only democracy. The British at the time had contested elections, but were not really a democracy. Despite the contentious nature of the election, it occured peacefully with President Adams quietly leaving Washington alone by stage coach before President Jefferson's innaguration. The election was a stunning defeat for President Adams and one in which he took as a personal rebuke. Adams was shocked at his defeat. He had thought that his Revolutionry credentials would ensure his victory. He took his defeat personally. He became a very embitered man. He could not understand that the country he had helped create could reject him. The transfer of policy was a momentous event, the peaceful transfer of power to an oposition power. One reason that monarchy had endured so long in human history is thatit provided for a peaceful sucession from one monarch to another. The transfer of power in a republican government is much less asured. Setting this precent in the Ameican Republic was a critical step.

Political Realignment

The 1800 election ended the Federalist domination of the Federal Government. The election also involved a major realignment in Americamn politics. The Democratic-Republican victories in the Congressional elections essentially destroyed the Federalists as a national party. President Adams packed the Federal Courts with Federalists which essentially meant that they could continue to exert influence through the Federal courts led by the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall.

Constitutional Defect

Sources

Larson, Edward. A Magnificent Catastrophe.

Created: 2:54 AM 7/19/2007
Last updated: 2:19 AM 2/21/2012