Election of 1800Election of 1800

Adapting Project HISTORYAdapting Project HISTORYNovember 17, 2010November 17, 2010

Newhouse I, Room 409Newhouse I, Room 409

Six Important things to keep in Six Important things to keep in mindmind

Constitution ratified only 12 years earlierConstitution ratified only 12 years earlierPrevious national government, the Previous national government, the Articles of Confederation last less than 10 yearsArticles of Confederation last less than 10 yearsStrong antiparty sentiment shared by most, if not all Strong antiparty sentiment shared by most, if not all public men---Federalists and Republicanspublic men---Federalists and Republicans No tradition of a “loyal opposition”—the government No tradition of a “loyal opposition”—the government seen as synonymous with the Constitution seen as synonymous with the Constitution Election of 1800 first time in American history power Election of 1800 first time in American history power transferred from one proto-party to anothertransferred from one proto-party to anotherElection of 1800 along with 1860 the two Election of 1800 along with 1860 the two most critical most critical presidential elections in American historypresidential elections in American history

Who were the CandidatesWho were the Candidates

President John Adams (Federalist)President John Adams (Federalist)

Vice President Thomas Jefferson Vice President Thomas Jefferson (Republican)(Republican)

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist)Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Federalist)

Aaron Burr (Republican)Aaron Burr (Republican)

The Candidates for PresidentThe Candidates for President

Candidates for Vice PresidentCandidates for Vice PresidentBurr and C.C. PinckneyBurr and C.C. Pinckney

What were the issues?What were the issues?Foreign Affairs--French Revolution---Foreign Affairs--French Revolution---polarizing American society—along polarizing American society—along sectional lines—sectional lines— Quasi-War with FranceQuasi-War with FranceBoth sides demonized the other as being Both sides demonized the other as being unpatriotic and dangerous to the unpatriotic and dangerous to the Constitution, a republican form of Constitution, a republican form of government and the Uniongovernment and the UnionDefense build upDefense build up1798---Federalist Congress—Alien and 1798---Federalist Congress—Alien and Sedition LawsSedition Laws

The ElectionThe ElectionCandidates same as in 1796---Adams Candidates same as in 1796---Adams vs. Jeffersonvs. Jefferson

Early Federalist setback-- New York Early Federalist setback-- New York Legislature won by Republicans-- mean Legislature won by Republicans-- mean that Republicans control electoral votes that Republicans control electoral votes (12)(12)

Federalists divided--Hamilton support Federalists divided--Hamilton support scheme to elect Charles Cotesworth scheme to elect Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of SC President over AdamsPinckney of SC President over Adams

Methods of ElectionMethods of Election

Ten states, N.H., Vt., Mass., Conn., N.Y., Ten states, N.H., Vt., Mass., Conn., N.Y., N.J., Pa., Del., S.C., and Ga.--legislatures N.J., Pa., Del., S.C., and Ga.--legislatures chose electorschose electors

R.I. And Va. Elected theirs by general ticketR.I. And Va. Elected theirs by general ticket

Md., N.C., and Ky., divided state into Md., N.C., and Ky., divided state into districts for electiondistricts for election

Tenn. Used combination of legislature and Tenn. Used combination of legislature and district plansdistrict plans

Hamilton’s Denunciation of Hamilton’s Denunciation of AdamsAdams

Fall, 1800, Hamilton published letter Fall, 1800, Hamilton published letter denouncing Adamsdenouncing Adams

““Great and intrinsic defects” in his Great and intrinsic defects” in his charactercharacter

““disgusting egotism, distempered jealousy, disgusting egotism, distempered jealousy, and ungovernable indiscretion of temper”and ungovernable indiscretion of temper”

Other Players—Alexander HamiltonOther Players—Alexander Hamilton

Election HysteriaElection Hysteria

Connecticut Federalist: “there is scarcely a Connecticut Federalist: “there is scarcely a possibility that we shall escape a Civil possibility that we shall escape a Civil War…. Murder, robbery, rape, adultery War…. Murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and and incest will be openly taught and practiced, the air will be rent with the cries practiced, the air will be rent with the cries of distress, the soil will be soaked with of distress, the soil will be soaked with blood, and the nation black with crimes”blood, and the nation black with crimes”

Election ResultsElection ResultsNew England solid for AdamsNew England solid for Adams

New York--RepublicanNew York--Republican

Pennsylvania--split 8 for Jefferson and 7 for Pennsylvania--split 8 for Jefferson and 7 for AdamsAdams

New Jersey and Delaware--FederalistNew Jersey and Delaware--Federalist

Maryland split 5 to 5Maryland split 5 to 5

Virginia south sweep for Jefferson, except N.C. 8 Virginia south sweep for Jefferson, except N.C. 8 to 4 in favor of Jeffersonto 4 in favor of Jefferson

Jefferson and running mate Aaron Burr tie with Jefferson and running mate Aaron Burr tie with 73 votes73 votes

Adams 65 votesAdams 65 votes

Election of 1800Election of 1800

Electoral CrisisElectoral Crisis

Tie in Electoral College---precipitated one of Tie in Electoral College---precipitated one of the greatest political and constitutional the greatest political and constitutional crises in historycrises in history

16 states--8 for Jefferson, 6 controlled by 16 states--8 for Jefferson, 6 controlled by Federalists and 2 dividedFederalists and 2 divided

Majority of Federalists opted for strategy to Majority of Federalists opted for strategy to throw support to Burrthrow support to Burr

Burr told Jefferson that he would “utterly Burr told Jefferson that he would “utterly disclaim all competition” disclaim all competition”

Electoral Crisis 2Electoral Crisis 2Tensions build--Gabriel’s Revolt in Va., Tensions build--Gabriel’s Revolt in Va., summer of 1800--heighten sense of summer of 1800--heighten sense of vulnerabilityvulnerabilityFires in Washington (War and Treasury)Fires in Washington (War and Treasury)Rumors that Jefferson to be assassinatedRumors that Jefferson to be assassinatedIsolation of Washington Isolation of Washington February, 1801--balloting begins in HouseFebruary, 1801--balloting begins in HouseHamilton argued Burr more dangerous Hamilton argued Burr more dangerous than Jefferson--Burr man of “extreme and than Jefferson--Burr man of “extreme and irregular ambition” “far more cunning than irregular ambition” “far more cunning than wise far more dexterous than able”wise far more dexterous than able”

Other Players---Albert GallatinOther Players---Albert Gallatin

Electoral Crisis 3Electoral Crisis 3

If Jefferson not elected--what Republican If Jefferson not elected--what Republican response---Gallatin suggested that state response---Gallatin suggested that state governments refuse to obey any act coming governments refuse to obey any act coming from usurping Presidentfrom usurping PresidentSome Federalists proposing that blocking an Some Federalists proposing that blocking an election in House----lead to a Federalist pro-tem election in House----lead to a Federalist pro-tem of Senate serving as presidentof Senate serving as presidentRumors of militias arming and mobilizingRumors of militias arming and mobilizingGovernor McKean of PennsylvaniaGovernor McKean of PennsylvaniaGovernor Monroe of VirginiaGovernor Monroe of Virginia

Other Players—Thomas McKeanOther Players—Thomas McKean

Other Players—James MonroeOther Players—James Monroe

Deadlock BrokenDeadlock Broken

After 36 ballots Jefferson electedAfter 36 ballots Jefferson elected

Some Federalists cast blank ballots in Some Federalists cast blank ballots in Delaware and South Carolina---Federalists Delaware and South Carolina---Federalists in Maryland and Vermont not vote---states in Maryland and Vermont not vote---states then vote for Jeffersonthen vote for Jefferson

Why did Federalists seek resolution of Why did Federalists seek resolution of crisis?crisis?

What was Burr’s role?What was Burr’s role?

Other Players—James BayardOther Players—James Bayard

Revolution of 1800Revolution of 1800

The “revolution of 1800… was as real a The “revolution of 1800… was as real a revolution in the principles of our revolution in the principles of our government as that of 1776 was in its government as that of 1776 was in its form” Thomas Jeffersonform” Thomas Jefferson

Why did Jefferson believe this?Why did Jefferson believe this?

What Happened After 1800What Happened After 1800

Federalist strength in the House of Federalist strength in the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives– 1798 60%1798 60%– 1800 34%1800 34%– 1802 27%1802 27%– 1804 17%1804 17%– 1806 16.9%1806 16.9%

What Happened After 1800 (2)What Happened After 1800 (2)

Some Federalists removed from officeSome Federalists removed from office

Repealed excise tax--called for reduction Repealed excise tax--called for reduction in national debtin national debt

Allowed Alien and Sedition Acts to lapseAllowed Alien and Sedition Acts to lapse

Let BUS expire in 1811Let BUS expire in 1811

Purchase Louisiana Territory, 1803 Purchase Louisiana Territory, 1803 despite strict constructionist viewsdespite strict constructionist views