What Was The Election Of 1800

The Election of 1800 There have been fifty-eight presidential elections in the United States. Each election, significant in it’s own way, some more than others. The election of 1800, had particular significance, it alone brought forward a string of Republican Presidencies which changed the United States and set the stage for formal political parties. First of all, this was an election between the Federalists and Democrat-Repubilcans. John Adams was the Federalist President and his competitor was Thomas Jefferson, a Republican. The period leading up to the election has been recorded to be one of the ugliest, with each side demonizing the other in any way they could; Adams had been known to be a vain, envious, and crazed Northerner, and
Adams had already served two-terms, once as the Vice President under George Washington and the next as the second President of the United States; he held few friends and an unlikeable stance in his own party through these times. His unpopularity had much to do with the occurrences at the time he had taken presidency, in 1797. The French Revolution of 1789 had set the stage for the political currents which were waiting to converge; the Federalists were for Britain and the Jeffersonians for France. While there was great conflict between France, Britain, and the United States; to the dismay of his fellow Federalists, Adams had sent American commissioners to France in order to negotiate, soon after his placement in office. The French representatives insisted on bribes and a governmental loan before negotiations would be considered. This failed mission resulted in increased hatred amongst Democrats and the loss of support amongst friends and Federalists; letters show his own Secretary of State was suggesting
They had to wait until February 11, 1801, for the ballots to legally be opened and counted; Jefferson and Burr had tied with seventy-three votes, while Adams received sixty-five, and Pinckney sixty-four. In cases of such a tie, the election would be taken to the House of Representatives, where each state would have one vote which would be determined by the majority of the delegation. This secondary procedure came close to failing on a decision as well. After six days and thirty-six ballots, a President was finally chosen. The deadlock was broken by a Federalist from Delaware who chose to put his home state loyalties first, abandoning his political ideals; John Bayard had the entire state’s vote in his hands, as a lone representative. Although he despised both Republican candidates, Bayard’s change was determined upon seeking a bargain of Federalist terms, he feared for the political existence of his state which needed the Union; which Jefferson made known coincided with his views and intentions, while Burr refused to reach an accommodation. On February 17, 1801, it was official, Thomas Jefferson had become the new president and Burr the Vice