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American History Lecture Four (view source)
Revision as of 14:14, September 30, 2008
, 14:14, September 30, 2008→Revolution of 1800
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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. Thus, the vote was thrown into the House of Representatives.
In the House of Representatives, many Federalists supported Burr and liked him more than Jefferson. At last, the House of Representatives elected Jefferson on the thirty-sixth ballot.
Thus, 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.
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 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 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.
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 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 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.
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 charitable [[George Washington]], who got along with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution. Now [[Congress]] needed to choose between Burr and Jefferson as to which would be President.
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 charitable [[George Washington]], who got along with everyone, felt compelled to banish Burr during the Revolution. Now [[Congress]] needed to choose between Burr and Jefferson as to which would be President.
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.
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. He said that Burr was "the most unfit man in the United States for the office of 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 turned out to be an excellent president. Although he despised public speaking, he was intelligent and well-versed in relations with Europe. He eliminated unnecessary taxes such as the whiskey tax and decreased the size of government.
== Jefferson Administration ==
== Jefferson Administration ==