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== Revolution of 1800 ==

== Revolution of 1800 ==

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer, but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking whenever possible.

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer, but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking whenever possible. He rarely spoke when he served in the Continental Congress, and when he did speak he expressed anti-religious views that were not shared by others. John Adams wrote about Jefferson:<ref name="Jefferson">http://wiki.monticello.org/mediawiki/index.php/Public_Speaking</ref>

Political parties formed because politics is a team sport. Jefferson ran against the Federalists, and even started a new political party to defeat the Federalists: "Democratic-Republican Party."  Today, both the Democrats and the Republicans can claim roots in Jefferson’s party.

:Mr. Jefferson had been now about a Year a Member of Congress, but had attended his Duty in the House but a very small part of the time and when there had never spoken in public: and during the whole Time I satt [sic] with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three Sentences together. The most of a Speech he ever made in my hearing was a gross insult on Religion, in one or two Sentences, for which I gave him immediately the Reprehension, which he richly merited.

President Adams was badly beaten in a bitter election called the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," which first peaceful change in power due to election in modern history.  The election of the Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, was a victory for limited government and a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution.

After becoming president, Jefferson remained so afraid of speaking that he refused to read his annual address to Congress, instead insisting on sending it to Congress in written form.<ref name="Jefferson"/> On other occasions he would have someone else read his speech for him.

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for President.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans. But the inability of the election system to resolve the "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

But Jefferson benefit from the formation of political parties.  John Adams, the incumbent president in 1800, was a member of the "Federalist Party," which was strong in the northeast (especially Massachusetts).  It favored a strong national government, friendly dealings with England, and a liberal interpretation of the Constitution ("loose constructionism").  In opposition to this party, the Democratic-Republican Party formed to represent the opposite: a weak national government (keeping the power at a local level), friendly dealings with France, and a strict interpretation of the Constitution ("strict constructionism").  The Democratic-Republican Party was strongest in Virginia.  Politics is a team sport, and the fortunes of political candidates rose or fell based on the strength of the political party at that time (the same is true today).

Burr was a bad guy.  As the grandson of [[Jonathan Edwards]], Burr had access and wealth, and a good deal of charm.  But even the even-tempered [[George Washington]], who got along with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution.  Now [[Congress]] then needed to choose between him and Jefferson as to which would be President.

In 1800, when the Federalist Party leader John Adams was President, the Democratic-Republican Party ran Thomas Jefferson (who had founded the party) against him in the presidential election.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew how Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  Some suspect that Jefferson cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than he would have otherwise.

 

 

 

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew that Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  Some suspect that Jefferson privately cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than Jefferson would have otherwise.

== Jefferson Administration ==

== Jefferson Administration ==