In the election of 1800, the federalist incumbent john adams ran against the rising republican thomas jefferson. Thats fine by me as they are two of the most important individuals in early american history and 1800 led to chain of events that ended hamiltons life and ruined burrs. In the presidential election of 1800, the incumbent president john adams and his fellow federalist candidate, charles cotesworth pinckney, challenged the republican duo of incumbent vice. Jill lepore writes about the 1800 presidential election, which pitted thomas jefferson against john adams, and the role that the press played in the vote.
A lively and reliable account of thomas jeffersons election as president in 1800, a fiery period in american history. The press, the propagandists, and the election of 1800 the new. In his inaugural address, jefferson sought to cool partisan tempers, proclaiming that, we are all federalists, we are all republicans. This was the first peaceful transfer of political power in the history of the republic, and democraticrepublicans hailed jeffersons victory as the revolution of 1800. The election of 1800 between john adams and thomas jefferson was an. I thought it was a book about the election of 1800, but this wasnt really discussed until 23 of the. Published in the heat of the 2008 presidential campaign, it reminds us how little the political landscape has changed in the 52. The tumultuous election of 1800, published by oxford university press. The first electoral college tie in american political history occurred in the 1800 election, but it wasnt the two presidential candidates who were deadlocked. John adamsjohn adams, oil on canvas by gilbert stuart, c.
The election of 1800 between john adams and thomas jefferson was an emotional and hardfought campaign. The election of 1800 was one of the most controversial in american history, marked by intrigue, betrayals, and a tie in the electoral college between two candidates who were running mates on. The election of 1800 was a thunderous clash of a campaign that climaxed in a deadlock in the electoral college and led to a crisis in which the young republic teetered on it was a contest of titans. It also became the first time in american history where there was a peaceful shift in. By the election of 1840 the twoparty system had become firmly entrenched in united states politics, with the whigs trying to unseat the incumbent democrats, who had controlled the. A bitter partisan battle between federalist john adams and republican. Though we know the outcome of the election before we read, a magnificent catastrophe reads like a political thriller. The election of 1800 is one of the most interesting and significant elections in united states history. The extremely partisan and outright nasty campaign failed to provide a clear winner. The election of 1800 and millions of other books are available for instant access.
National archives identifier 2668821 anyone who is a fan of the hit musical hamilton knows the song. Jefferson is the gripping account of a turning point in american history, a dramatic struggle between two parties with profoundly different visions of how the nation should be governed. The history and legacy of americas most controversial presidential election by charles river editors the election of 1800 book. The election of 1800, pitting thomas jeffersons democratic republicans against john adams federalists, was a thunderous clash of a. Although the title of this book suggests that it is about the presidential election of 1800, it is really about the relationship of adams and jefferson dating back to their blissful time. United states presidential election of 1800 candidates. The presidential election of 1800 was an angry, dirty, crisisridden contest that seemed to threaten the nations very survival. Thats fine by me as they are two of the most important individuals in. Election of 1800 creating the united states exhibitions library of. The 1800 election between john adams and thomas jefferson was a classic, with such rogues as aaron burr and alexander hamilton omni present to stoke the fires of partisanship and intrigue. Rare book and special collections division, library of congress 99.
Burtons daniel indicated that gabriels wife nanny knew about the conspiracy. The election of 1800 also involved larger than life figures thomas jefferson, alexander hamilton, john adams, and aaron burr. The election of 1800 was one of the most bitter, contentious, and fiercely partisan presidential elections in us history. The deadlocked election of 1800 has earned considerable attention and debate from historians. I think this book had a lot of promise, but in the end it turned out to try to cover too much history.
Because of a mistaken in how the constitution stated who would be elected president, thomas jefferson and his vice. Usa today a wellwritten look at the enigmatic politics and. Larson is the author of seven books and the recipient of the 1998 pulitzer prize in history for his book summer for the gods. The briefest of the recent books about the 1800 campaign, the deadlocked election of 1800 provides a readable overview of wellknown events. Professor ferling discussed the formation of political parties in. Has a presidential election ever been as negative as this one. The convention of 1800 or the treaty of mortefontaine between the united states of america and france ended the 1798 1800 quasiwar, an undeclared naval war waged primarily in the. The revolution of 1800, jefferson wrote years later, did for american. The election of 1800 was a thunderous clash of a campaign that climaxed in a deadlock in the electoral college and led to a crisis in which the young republic teetered on the edge of collapse. He shows not just why this moment was a milestone in u. Each side believed that victory by the other would ruin the nation. Includes pictures includes contemporary accounts of the elect. Ferling born 1940 is a professor emeritus of history at the university of west georgia. The election of 1800 was indeed decided by congress strictly speaking, it was decided by the house, the senate had no vote in the matter.
The tumultuous election of 1800 is the story of the first contentious election in the united states. Jill lepore writes about the 1800 presidential election, which pitted thomas jefferson. A leading authority on american revolutionary history, he has appeared in many documentaries and has written numerous books, including john adams. The election of 1800 was a revolution in the modern sense of a radical new beginning, but it. The 1800 united states presidential election was the fourth presidential election. Ken walsh is the author of the book celebrity in chief. The election of 1800 was probably the most important in american history. The press, the propagandists, and the election of 1800. The 2004 campaign may seem tame after historian ferlings riveting account of the 1800 presidential race. The election of 1800 is termed, in the books title, a magnificent catastrophe. The 1800 election between john adams and thomas jefferson was a classic, with such rogues as aaron burr and alexander hamilton omni present to stoke the fires of partisanship and.
In addition, the two contestants were not only two noteworthy founding fathers but also the sitting president and vice president. The election of 1800 pieces of history national archives. This is the most important election in american history. In the election of 1800, the federalist incumbent john adams ran against the. The year is 1800 and the united states is preparing for a presidential election. Thomas jefferson, aaron burr and the election of 1800. This non fiction account uses primary resources to narrate what led to the.
Take the election of 1800, which featured a cast of characters willing to take on the mantle left by the death of george washington, who was able to unify a young, rambunctious nation. Thomas jefferson called his election the revolution of 1800. This contest established peaceful transfer of parties between parties as a normal part of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
One can argue that the election of 1876 was decided by congress, although actually it was decided by a 15member electoral commission established by congress with the understanding that one supreme court justice would cast the deciding vote. The election of 1800 was a thunderous clash of a campaign that climaxed in a. Professor peter henriques will set the historical context for us, while. As a leading historian in the american revolution and founding era, he has appeared in television. The election of 1800 was a fight between the democraticrepublicans and the federalists party for presidency. The history and legacy of americas most controversial presidential election by charles river editors at barnes due to covid19. The southern plantation before and after emancipation. The controversial election of thomas jefferson in 1800. United states presidential election of 1840 united. Adams accepted his electoral defeat and left the white house peacefully. Yes, the current president is running for re election against his vice president. While the title of this book is the election of 1800 much of the narrative is devoted to alexander hamilton and aaron burr. In the election of 1800, the republicans again backed thomas jefferson for president and aaron burr for vice president, while the federalists supported john adams for reelection.