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Jefferson benefited 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).   

Jefferson benefited 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).   

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

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

The presidential election in 1800 became known as the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," because it was the first '''''peaceful''''' change in power due to election in modern history: the group in power, the Federalist Party, had been defeated by a group not in power, the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, were victorious over the incumbent John Adams.<ref>Thomas Jefferson had been John Adams Vice President, which seems odd today.</ref>  The victory by Jefferson and Burr against Adams was a victory for limited government and a "strict constructionist" interpretation of the Constitution.

This presidential election of 1800 became known as the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," because it was the first '''''peaceful''''' change in power due to election in modern history: the group in power, the Federalist Party, had been defeated by a group not in power, the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, were victorious over the incumbent John Adams.<ref>Thomas Jefferson had been John Adams Vice President, which seems odd today.</ref>  The victory by Jefferson and Burr against Adams was a victory for limited government and a "strict constructionist" interpretation of the Constitution.

At the time, the electoral college voted for both president and vice president.  Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, each received 73 electoral votes.  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 this "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 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives had to resolve the tie.

At the time, the electoral college voted for both president and vice president.  Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, each received 73 electoral votes.  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 this "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 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives had to resolve the tie.